Mr. Karimov has led the ex-Soviet state of 28 million people since 1989.
Transnistria, which seceded from the ex-Soviet state of Moldova more than two decades ago, has a border with Ukraine, but not with Russia.
A British tycoon is identified by US diplomats as the man at the centre of one of America's worst recent corruption scandals, in which large bribes were allegedly handed over in the ex-Soviet state of Kazakhstan.
Since taking over the tiny ex-Soviet state of Georgia from an ousted president in 1992, he has lost its western flank to separatists, failed to thaw frozen ties to Russia and presided over a thoroughly corrupt, somnolent economy.
Dodon's status as favourite is in part a reflection of a loss of trust in pro-European leaders in the ex-Soviet state of 3.5 million, which was plunged into turmoil after a corruption scandal came to light in late 2014.
Michael Church goes in search of traditional vocal styles in the ex-Soviet state of Georgia.
Section D are forced to welcome an FSB Officer onto the Grid to help track down Aibek, a rogue nationalist from the ex-Soviet state of Azakstan.
Section D must welcome an FSB Officer onto the Grid to help track down a rogue nationalist from the ex-Soviet state of Azakstan.
Lucy Duran reviews some of the latest albums from Pakistan with the writer and film-maker Navid Akhtar, and Michael Church goes in search of traditional vocal styles in the ex-Soviet state of Georgia.
Under the headline, "This Witch Hunt Has Put Us Behind Ex-Soviet States on Press Freedom," the tabloid's associate editor, Trevor Kavanagh, denounced the recent arrests of journalists as part of a police investigation into bribery of public officials.
"The witch-hunt has put us behind ex-Soviet states on free press," he said.
