Back in the USSR?Moscow has devoted much attention in the past few years to building close relations with nations in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Eastern Europe that used to be part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (map at right). Political analyst and Columbia University Visiting Professor Vasili Rukhadze, blogging at NewEurasia, provides a full country-by-country rundown on Russia's geopolitical offensive.

Threats and bribes brought impoverished Tajikistan to heel. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev of Kyrgyzstan was threatened by worsening relations with both Russia and the United States.  Bakiyev caved to Russian energy and communication monopolies to preserve his tenuous grip on power.

Uzbekistan became an international pariah after government forces opened fire on a crowd of peaceful demonstrators in the May 2005 Andijan massacre.  That gave Russia an opportunity to move in and negotiate a full-scale economic, political and military alliance with the desperate regime.

Kazakhstan, the largest, wealthiest, and most independent of the Central Asian republics, has proved difficult to control; but unrelenting pressure and subtle threats are gradually forcing the energy-rich nation closer to Russia.

Vladimir Putin’s campaign to dominate Central Asia was greatly advanced by this month’s energy agreement with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

President Putin, during his week long visit to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, reached an agreement with the Central Asian leaders ensuring Russia’s access to Turkmenistan’s abundant gas resources. According to Mr. Putin’s announcement Turkmen gas will be transported via Kazakhstan and Russia to Europe. . . . These three states along with Uzbekistan also agreed that two other gas pipelines will be renewed. When all these envisioned pipelines go into operation, Russian natural gas imports from Central Asia will almost double to 90 billion cubic meters per year from the current 50 billion. In other words, these agreements assure Russia’s unequivocal dominance over Central Asia’s gas imports.

For complete discussions of developments in the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) and Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Estonia), read the whole thing.

Russian leaders have disclosed that they intend to bring the countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under Russia’s control in a new “Eurasian Union”.  Clear and substantial progress is being made toward that goal.

Previous related posts: