Search results for

In Russia, the prison population is on the rise and so, too, are allegations of extreme abuse. Human rights groups and former prisoners say treatment of inmates is so bad that it's comparable to the Soviet Gulag.

Thanks in large part to the soaring price of oil, Kazakhstan has become one of the world's fastest-growing economies. Companies and governments are competing for access to its vast deposits of oil and natural gas.

Russia says it will double its nuclear energy capabilities in the next 25 years. The Kremlin promises the country's nuclear industry is safe. But experts argue that it is alarmingly dangerous and on the verge of collapse.

Foreign investment in Russia remains strong despite a sharp decline in commodities prices. Putin and Medvedev have sought to reassure investors, but experts say reforms are necessary for long-term stability.