EU member state Czech Republic and Russia are at the heart of the latest intrigue. Prague on Saturday ordered 14 Russian diplomats to get out within 48 hours, saying Moscow was involved in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion in the country, which, if true, would be an extraordinary ante-up.

The arrests of two men in Georgia charged with attempting to peddle radioactive materials to would-be buyers is the latest in a string of such incidents spanning almost two decades.

Verbosity is one of the few tangible instruments the West has to try and influence Moscow. It has supplied some military support to Kyiv in the way of weapons sales. But it is in no position – be it NATO, Washington, Berlin, Paris, or the EU - to intervene militarily.  

Kapital Bank, the oldest and one of the top three commercial banks in Azerbaijan, reported a net profit of 55,535 million manats ($33.7 million) in the first quarter of 2021, 26 percent less compared to the same period in 2020.

Azerbaijan’s leading gold mining company, Anglo Asian Mining Plc, reported a decline in gold production to 11,907 ounces in the first quarter of 2021 from 15,867 ounces in the same period last year.

Uzbekistan lists several major state-owned enterprises for initial public offering in 2021-2023, as a part of its plan to reform its economy.