This publication is an offshoot of the joint IMEMO – SIPRI project ‘The Russian edition of the SIPRI Yearbook: Armament, Disarmament and International Security’. The studies in this booklet reflect two major developments of the past year affecting the Russian security environment: the crisis in the North Caucasus in August (with its local, regional and global ramifications) and the beginning of the worldwide financial and economic down-turn. The authors offer analyses of various critical issues: the political fallout of the Caucasian conflict; the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program; the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space; naval arms control and countering terrorism at sea; humanitarian and military aspects of cluster munitions. Problems of Russian defense-industrial complex are addressed in chapters describing Russia’s military-technical cooperation with foreign states and resource allocation for defense needs in the 2009–2011 Federal Budget.

The booklet contains the brief overview of key Russian official documents on security and arms control.