TODAY: Russia lifts special security regime in Chechnya; Kremlin and NATO clash on Georgia exercises; former PM warns of social unrest; Medvedev in favor of political competition?

The Kremlin has ceased its decade-long counter-terrorism operations in Chechnya, a move seen to strengthen the authority of Kremlin-backed President Ramzan Kadyrov.  Is this really a victory for the Kremlin? asks the BBC.  The Telegraph reports NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin’s most recent comment about proposed NATO military exercises in Georgia: ‘These exercises look like NATO is giving both moral and armed support to the Saakashvili regime’.  Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has joined with Rogozin in demanding that the exercises be called off.  Reuters reports on mutual accusations of building up troops voiced by Russia and Georgia.  The first hearing in Georgia’s case against Russia over human rights violations has taken place in the European Court of Human Rights.