As Elections Loom, Fighting Turns Deadly in Ukraine  By Andrew Roth And Alan Cowell, The New York Times 22 May 2014 DONETSK, Ukraine — Four days before a watershed presidential election in Ukraine, a new round of deadly fighting flared in the east of the country on Thursday. At least 13 government soldiers were reported killed in an abrupt escalation of violence as pro-Russian separatists struck back against government efforts to subdue them.

Country at Risk: The Russian Federation [caption id="attachment_5365" align="alignright" width="300"] (C) BBC[/caption] The breakup of the USSR in 1991 left the Russian Federation with ethnic conflicts in many of its Oblasts (provinces.) Many provinces in the North Caucasus area were historically autonomous republics that are now provinces in a federation in which they are ethnic minorities, with governors nominated by Moscow. Peoples of the Caucasus

Russia ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Belgorod: Six dead in western Russia shooting By BBC News 22 April 2013 A gunman has killed six people - including a 14-year-old girl - in the western Russian city of Belgorod, local officials say. The man shot dead three people inside a hunting shop and two passers-by. Another woman later died in hospital. The attacker -

14 November 2012 "Russia expands treason law, critics fear crackdown" By The Associated Press 18 September 2012 "Russian Christians Fear Persecution on Rise" By the New American 17 August 2012 "Violence in Muslim region disturbs Russian "ant hill" sect" By Reuters 09 August 2012 "Underground sect found after nearly a decade" By Reuters 27 July 2012 "Analysis: fight over Islam, money and power brings violence to Volga" By Reuters 21 July 2012 "If