Intra-Elite Outcomes of the Formation of a New Composition and Leadership of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Following the 2026 Elections

The formation of the State Duma of the ninth convocation following the elections of September 18–20, 2026, was accompanied not only by an updating of the personal composition of the chamber, but also by a redistribution of leadership positions within parliamentary factions, committees, and standing commissions. The assessments presented in analytical materials permit examination of this process through several interrelated aspects: the correlation of party forces, continuity of leadership, personnel movements, changes in the organizational structure of committees, and mechanisms for coordinating key appointments.

Monthly Monitoring of Analytical Publications on Post-Soviet Conflicts

August is traditionally considered a month when academic activity grinds to a halt—a trend that applies particularly to publishing. It is precisely in August that reputable journals make room for publications with unusual or even exotic themes, and authors find the time to work on such pieces. In this edition of our monitoring report, we have not strayed beyond the scope of conflicts in the post-Soviet space—and yet, we will be discussing epic heroes, artificial intelligence systems in public service, and medical education amidst political instability.

Iran Cut Off from Central Asia as Armenia Keeps an Open Gateway

Armenia therefore remains one of the few countries bordering Iran where Tehran's pressure and incentives still appear to retain some influence. Yerevan continues to expand its cooperation with the Islamic Republic, although it is unclear how long Armenia will be able to move against the broader regional trend. At some point, Yerevan's potential role in helping Iran circumvent sanctions may find its way onto the agenda in the White House and on Capitol Hill. If that happens, the question will ultimately be put directly to the Armenian authorities.

Fortifying the Frontier, Forgetting the Fundamentals: The Baltic States’ Puzzling Confidence

As tensions rise along NATO’s northeastern flank, the Baltic states face an uneasy contradiction: they have strengthened defenses, expanded allied deployments, and taken an increasingly assertive stance toward Moscow, yet significant gaps remain in infrastructure, air defense, and regional preparedness. With Russia testing the alliance through hybrid pressure and Washington sending mixed signals about the certainty of Article 5, the central question is no longer whether Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are preparing for confrontation, but whether the broader NATO system would respond quickly and decisively if that preparation were put to the test.

Elections to the New Kurultai in Kazakhstan: a changing society in an unstable world. Part 2.

The election of 23 August 2026 substantially reshaped Kazakhstan’s party system. Seven registered political parties contested all 145 seats in the newly established unicameral Kurultai, elected entirely through nationwide party lists. Five parties that represented all political spectrum crossed the 5 per cent electoral threshold: Adilet, Auyl, Respublica, Ak Zhol and the Nationwide Social Democratic Party (OSDP). Two left parties (The People’s Party of Kazakhstan and the Baitaq Green Party) failed to enter the new legislature.

Elections to the New Kurultai in Kazakhstan: a changing society in an unstable world. Part 1.

Before Kassym-Jomart Tokayev came to power in 2019, Kazakhstan under Nursultan Nazarbayev combined a highly centralized political system with broadly neoliberal socioeconomic policies. In this respect, the Kazakhstani model displayed certain similarities with the previous developmental trajectories of several twentieth-century Asian states, including South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, where strong centralized authority coexisted with market-oriented economic modernization and deep integration into the global economy.

TRIPP for Central Asia — Tempting, but Fraught

The government of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stepped up efforts to involve Central Asian countries in the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP). Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have expressed cautious interest in the project. TRIPP is a 43-kilometer transport corridor that will run through Armenian territory along the Iranian border and connect the two parts of Azerbaijan. The corridor is expected to include roads and railways, pipelines, power transmission lines, and fiber-optic cables.

BESA Post-Soviet Conflicts Research Digest No. 35 (August 2026)

In August 2026, PSCRP analytical materials were largely focused on the developments in the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Russia. The PSCRP team provides an overview of the year that has passed since the joint declaration was signed in Washington between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. In the same vein, the PSCRP team analyzes the role of the Middle Corridor, officially known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Monthly Monitoring of Analytical Publications on Post-Soviet Conflicts

Reimagining the Persianate Sphere: Iran’s Response to Turkic Regional Integration

In mid-August 2026, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref met in Tehran with Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Daler Juma. The substance of the meeting was unglamorous: oil bitumen and petrochemical exports, aviation fuel, a joint energy commission, and a first half of 2026 in which bilateral trade already ran some 15 percent ahead of the same period in 2025. Only after working through this ledger did Aref turn to build on the “extensive cultural, civilizational, and linguistic commonalities” between the two countries by establishing a “Union of Persian-Speaking Countries and Regions,” and to pursue the idea “seriously” through further meetings and visits.