TODAY: Georgian tensions continue; ‘counterproductive’ is NATO’s word on Russian expulsions; Eastern partnership a risky undertaking for the EU?; Sochi is apparently secure and within schedule; first attempt at gay marriage in Russia; anti-Gorbachev plotter dies

NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin has commented it would be better for NATO to undertake their war games ‘in a madhouse‘ than in a country where troops were ‘rioting against their own president‘; the digruntled diplomat expounds his issues with NATO in a piece he has written for the New York Times.  ‘Very unfortunate and counterproductive‘ is how NATO perceives of Russia’s expulsion of its diplomats.  Reuters features an analysis.  Could a free trade agreement help smooth relations between Georgia and Russia?  The Defense Ministry has announced that a planned second meeting between Russia, Georgia, the breakaway region of South Ossetia and the EU has been broken off ‘because of Georgia.’   ‘Preposterous‘, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, are claims that Russia was involved in the attempted mutiny.