Ministerial Mindbender

Today's puzzler:
Prime Minister of a former Soviet Socialist Republic for 9 months in 2005, this woman, who wears braids with the same aplomb that Bella Abzug (right) once wore hats, is the author of an alert essay on Russia, in the same Foreign Affairs edition that contains the Hunt article described above.
Who is she, and what country did she lead?
Answer below.
 
Bloggers Team