Issues+for+Russia+and+Neighboring+Countries

= = =**Home**= **Issues** ==**Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan **==

Post Soviet "Russification"
Russia seems to be greatly interested in becoming powerful again. Even though it has become powerful through the oil boom, its powers are not as it was back when there was the Soviet Union. Russia's interests can be seen through the Georgia and Russia conflict as well as how it supports the independence of republics such as South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia, there is Crimea in the Ukraine, Transdniester in Moldova, Narva in Estonia, and eastern areas of Latvia. Countries that these republics once belong to seem to have forged ties with the EU and NATO while they have strong ties with Russia. [] = = =Security =

Border Issues
-Russia with Ukraine: The issue over division of the Azov Sea has been unresolved between the two countries since the dissolution of the USSR. []

Terrorism
In Russia, terrorism by islamic forces are a great threat. The Russian government has banned seventeen terrorist organizations; the Highest Military Majlisul Shura of the United Forces of the Mujahedeen of the Caucasus, the Congress of the Peoples of Ichkeria and Daghestan,Al Quaeda, Asbat an-Ansar,Egyptian Islamic Jihan, Al-Jamaa al-Islami,Jamaat-e-Islami ,Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir,Lashkar-e-Toiba, Taliban, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Society of Social Reforms, Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage, Army of the Great Syria, and the Islamic Jihad - jamaat of the mujahedeen. []
 * Russia**

-Beslan School Hostage Crisis In September, 2004, Islamic terrorists seized the Beslan School No. 1 taking more than a 1000 people as hostage. They demanded the end to the Second Chechen War. The crisis was one of the bloodiest in Russian history with 331 dead. Russians blame the government for the bloody outcome because its use of excessive force rather than negotiation. The crisis brought up the issue of security in Russia. It also brought up the issue of terrorism in Russia's Caucasus region. [] media type="youtube" key="j2Xf2P92fS8" height="290" width="353" align="center"

Georgia-Russia Conflict
-South Ossetia War The first shot was fired on August 7th but the crisis between Georgia and Russia have a longer history. The main reason for the conflict are the declaration of independence from Georgia's two republics: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia decided to give Russia passports to the people of the two republics. This angered Georgia and they tried to join the NATO alliance, angering Russia and making the conflict in South Ossetia inevitable. Georgia tried to regain South Ossetia and sent in their troops, to retaliate, Russia also sent in their troops resulting in the South Ossetia War. War was stopped through intervention from the EU and the United States. As of now, Russia has fully recognized both Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. The Georgian government has stated that they will now sever all diplomatic ties with Russia. []

Pollution at Norilsk
Norilsk has become, or is one of the biggest air polluters in the world. The biggest air polluter in Russia is home to many. Norilsk is a mining town. But the average life of workers here are ten year below the average. This means the expected life is fifty here. The snow is black and the air tastes of sulfur. Norilsk is a colony turned multi-billion metal mine. It's also right next to the Arctic Circle. Everyday, 5000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide is released into the sky. This turns the snow black, yellow, and sometimes even pink. The air tastes of sulpher. The Norilsk Mining Company is the one behind all of this. It produces one seventh of all of the air pollution in Russia. Every year, the waste amounts to two million tonnes in waste gas and 85 million cubic meters of dirty water. The effect of this: the destruction of forest tundras even in Norway and Canada.

[|http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=1409Organized Crimes]

On Saturday, April 26, 1986, at 1:23:58 a.m. a horrible accident happened in Kiev, Ukraine. Four nuclear reactors exploded resulting in terrible ecological damage and a huge loss of life. The effects of the explosion still effect the environment and lives of people there. Only 60 deaths can be linked directly to the accident but various organizations have stated that eventually more than thousands if not tens of thousands of lives will be lost. The explosion released huge amounts of radiation and affected northern Belarus as well. In Belarus 3,600 towns and 2.5 million people were affected. Radiative remains could be found even in the UK, especially in the wool. The radiation also destroyed the environment making it harder for people to grow crop and farm. The sea was also affected, resulting in a decline of fish catches. It is likely that Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine will be contaminated for decades. []

The Aral Sea[[image:f0012.jpg width="224" height="145" align="right"]]
The Aral Sea is located in Southern Asia. Once, full of fresh water, the Aral Sea was full of fish and was home to many different animals. By the 1980s, the sea had become half its size and along with it, the fishing industry there virtually disappeared. As the water disappeared, the sea became more salty and toxic, making it impossible to drink. The climate changed along with the disappearance of water. People who once lived there, searched for other places to live. By the 1990s, the islands in the sea were joining the mainlands and Vozrozhdenya, an island in the center of the sea, became the center of environmental concern. Due to the falling sea level, Vozrozhdenya was only 6 miles away from shore. It was once a place for biological weapon testing during the Cold War. In the 80s the Soviets buried bacterias on the island and they still live on today. Scientists fear that once the island is reachable, land animals will carry the bacterias to humans. Health problems are also rising, those who live in the area face the threat of sand storms that contain toxic dust. People there are in danger of kidney and lung disease will infant mortality rates are highest in the world there. []

Human Trafficking [[image:news_ukraine_combatting_human_trafficking.jpg width="280" height="185" align="right"]]
Thousands of Russian women are lured into the sex industry. Young, poor girls are promised money and they are forced into becoming sex slaves. Russia has turned a blind eye to the issue. It's not only women though, men and children are trafficked as well. Men and women are trafficked to South Korea, China, Bahrain, Oman, Japan and even South Korea for purposes of sexual exploitation, debt bondage, and forced labor. Women and trafficked to Turkey, Greece, South Africa, Germany, Poland, Italy, Israel, Spain, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Russia is also a transit for trafficked people. Men, women, and children are trafficked from Central Asia and Ukraine are trafficked into Russia. These people may be used for commercial sex but they are mostly forced into labor. Child sex tourism is also becoming a rising issue. Men from over the world travel to Western Russia for child sex tourism. Russia so far, has done little or nothing to stop human trafficking or to help its victims. And this issue not only concerns Russia but its neighbors and the rest of the world. []

Russia is the source, transit, and destination for trafficked men, women, and children. More than women from 50 countries are trafficked and sent to Russia for commercial sexual exploitation. Women and men alike are trafficked for labor and sexual exploitation. They are often taken from Asian countries, or countries neighboring Russia into Western Europe and the Middle East. Children sex tourism is also a rising concern. Russia has not made any visible efforts in trying to stop human trafficking. They have especially failed in aiding the victims. []