Michael Stott

Organising a conference on democracy was always going to be a challenge for the Kremlin.

The West's pillorying of Moscow over the invasion of Georgia has kindled a fierce Russian resentment that poses dangers for security in Europe.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered a halt to military operations in Georgia on Tuesday, after five days of fighting.

Vladimir Putin on Thursday took over as Russia's Prime Minister a day after leaving the Kremlin and pledged to curb inflation and cut taxes to make Russia a leading economic power. Putin said in a speech to Parliament presenting his candidacy that he wanted ''single-digit inflation within a few years.

United States President George Bush and Russia's Vladimir Putin confirmed at an airport meeting on Wednesday they plan to sign a bilateral deal next week for Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the presidents confirmed that they would sign a protocol paving the way for Russia to join the WTO. Bush and Putin also discussed Iran and its nuclear programme.

President Vladimir Putin warned Georgia on Wednesday not to provoke or blackmail Russia as Moscow tightened the screw on its southern neighbour. Discussing a dispute with Georgia over the arrests of four Russian officers, who were later released, Putin told lawmakers: ''I would not allow anyone to talk to Russia in the language of provocation and blackmail.''