CIS Daily Bulletin, February 25

Below is a summary of events in the Commonwealth of Independent States on February 25:

Azerbaijan:

* Trade between Russia and Azerbaijan in 2008 hit $2.4 billion, a 39.3% increase year-on-year, Russia's trade envoy to Azerbaijan, Yuri Schedrin said

Belarus:

* GDP growth in Belarus is expected to be 8-9% this year, Belarusian First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko said

* A Belarusian scientist has advised the country's businessmen to begin breeding edible frogs for export during the current economic crisis, Russia's Vesti TV channel said

Kazakhstan:

* Kazakhstan has launched its second nationwide census since the Central Asian country gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991

Kyrgyzstan:

* Two people are missing following an avalanche that engulfed the Kol-Chaty village in southern Kyrgyzstan, a local emergencies spokesman said

Turkmenistan:

* Turkmenistan will open its airspace for the transit of non-lethal cargo to a U.S. military contingent in Afghanistan, the country's president said

Ukraine:

* Ukraine's first president Leonid Kravchuk has urged the current president, Viktor Yushchenko, to step down as head of the country on Ukrainian television