The Udmurt Experiment in Russia

The government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in exile was established in 2007, after Doku Umarov, the last president of Ichkeria and a supporter of Wahhabism, announced the dissolution of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and the establishment of the Caucasus Emirate in its place, with Chechnya designated as the “Vilayat Nokhchicho.” This followed the final defeat of Chechen armed formations by the Russian Army. Akhmed Zakayev, who at the time served as foreign minister of the unrecognized republic, emerged as the leader of Chechen politicians who opposed this decision.

Israel, Russia, and the German Far-Right

In 2026, state elections were scheduled in five German federal states. Germany’s centrist forces are coming under increasing pressure due to the electoral successes of the far right and the far left. The Kremlin welcomed these electoral successes of Germany’s political fringes.

Azerbaijan’s Policy of Managing Religious Legitimacy: Defending Ideological and Political Sovereignty from Foreign Soft Power

The Azerbaijani model is not an anomaly. It is a variant of a broader post-Soviet pattern in which a secular state seeks to prevent religious affiliation from becoming a channel for the exercise of foreign sovereignty.

Kazakhstan Today: Economy, Society, and Demographic Transformation. Part II

The analysis below examines statistical data on contemporary Kazakhstan, focusing on interconnected changes in the economy, social structure, and demographic profile. Much of the statistical evidence used here comes from materials presented at the National Think Tank Forum on August 21, 2026. The forum brought together representatives of four major state-affiliated policy research institutions in Kazakhstan, specializing respectively in social development (Kazakhstan Institute for Public Development), economic policy (Economic Research Institute), industrial policy (QazIndustry), and education (A. Baitursynuly National Center for Education Research and Evaluation “Taldau”). Together, these institutions constitute an important part of Kazakhstan’s state policy research and analytical infrastructure.

BESA Post-Soviet Conflicts Research Digest No. 37 (October 2026)

In October 2026, the PSCR program’s analytical reports dealt with the political and economic developments across the entire post-Soviet area, including Central Asia, the South Caucasus, the Baltics, and even the Russian-speaking repatriates residing in Israel.

Central Asia Leaves Russia’s Orbit and Becomes a Focus of American Strategy

Russia no longer sets the terms. What remains of its position, including the reliance of Central Asian exporters on Russian rail and Kazatomprom’s 25 percent share in Russia’s Novouralsk enrichment plant, consists of vestiges of a past influence. Whether Washington can match its announcements with finished mines, refineries, and railways will decide how durable its new position proves, and the outcome will be settled between American and Chinese capital, with Moscow watching from the sidelines.

The Sausage and the Latte: Two Worlds Within One Language

At first glance, the social anthropology of Israeli society appears to fall outside the scope of PSCRP research. This is not the case, however, when we examine the two major waves of immigration from the former Soviet Union over the past thirty years. Their defining characteristics are rooted in the conflicts of the post-Soviet space. Life in Israel has not entirely erased this underlying framework, and we can reasonably assert that the conflict between the “Sausage Aliyah” of the 1990s and the “Pumpkin Relocation” that began in February 2022 is a conflict within the post-Soviet space—a space of minds, worldviews, values, and lifestyles.

“Perished Civilization”: A Historical Investigation That Offers a New Perspective on the Caucasus

In September 2026, the book “Znykla tsyvilizatsiia — nepomichena katastrofa” (Perished Civilization — An Overlooked Catastrophe) by a Ukrainian historian writing under the pseudonym Kuzari was published in Ukraine by the Kyiv-based publishing house Zaliznyi Tato. The publication of this book is noteworthy not only for its subject matter but also for the circumstances surrounding its release. The Ukrainian researcher addresses one of the most painful and politically sensitive chapters in the history of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, proposing that it be examined within the broader context of Moscow's centuries-long expansion. At the same time, the author conceals his identity, uses an unusual philosophical pseudonym, and bases his research on an extensive body of historical documents and testimonies.

Kazakhstan Today: Economy, Society, and Demographic Transformation. Part I.

Herzog’s Visit to Baku and the Hijab Controversy: Who Was Behind the “Israeli Connection” Narrative?

Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Azerbaijan to attend the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). Addressing the summit, he emphasized, among other things, that Azerbaijan, under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership, had become a model of stability, demonstrating economic growth and strengthening ties with countries across the region. Herzog described the decision to hold the summit in Azerbaijan as symbolic, stressing that the country serves as an example of regional partnership, tolerance, and confidence-building.