- The 14 former Soviet republics have Russian-speaking populations,reacted differently on the take over of Crimean peninsula by Russia as they have played a balancing act between Russia and the West.
- The oil-rich country Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus hosted a Russian radar base & American troop want to bring the two together, the come back of Soviet Union in South Caucasus and now in Ukraine.
- Russia is trying to repeat in Ukraine what they did to Geogia by trying to be diplomat as they came to power promising to improve their relations with Russia.
- Kazakhstan a members of Mr. Putin’s customs union & an influential country in central Asia where the popular opinions are formed by Russian media.
- Armenia is a member of Russia’s custom union, declined an EU association agreement, similar to one offered to Ukraine.
- Kyrgyzstan brought a revolution where Kyrgyz voted to close U.S airbase at Manas as they view the world as good Russia versus evil America.
- The Uzbekistan officials stated that the fall of Ukraine will led to fall of Uzbekistan and eventually Uzbekistan have to move to beef its military and build partnership with China and the west.
- Tajikistan depends on Russia for its GDP and the take over could be used against them.
- Estonia fear due to their political clashes with Russia even though they are members of NATO.
- Belarus is comfortable as Russian Crimea is a vacation destination for Belarusians but find Putin’s methods akin to Hitler’s methods.
- Lithuania retains a sizable population of ethnic Russians even after joining EU & NATO &cant defend themselves.
- Moldova‘s population consider this to be Russian imperial expansion where as some consider Russia as superpower that supports Moldova,and that Europe wants to get revenge through economic ties
Exams Perspective:
- Disintegration of USSR
- Central Asia