Russia: The Karelian Question

Karelia is the only republic within the Russian Federation where Russian is the only state language, while the local language is deprived of any status, whether formal or not. The reason for this is the federal law adopted by the State Duma in 2002, which prohibits the use of any alphabet other than the Cyrillic alphabet for the state languages of the constituent republics of the Russian Federation.

Azerbaijan Crisis Management: A Case Study in Statecraft

The crisis has demonstrated that effective confrontation with Russia requires a delicate balance: maintaining firmness while preserving diplomatic channels. Azerbaijan's handling of the situation offers valuable lessons in modern statecraft, showing that even regional powers can successfully manage conflicts with larger nations through calculated, strategic responses while pursuing concrete diplomatic objectives.

“Separatism”: Russia vs. Komi Ethnic Activists

Over the centuries, the Russian state expanded its ethnic base through the assimilation of Finno-Ugric peoples, the indigenous population of the north of the European part of the present-day Russian Federation and Western Siberia.

Kazakhstan’s Policy of Diversifying the Routes of Energy Supplies to Europe: Interests of Israel and the EU

The collective West and Israel could have vested interests in supporting such initiatives. This could lead to the creation of a powerful regional coalition of post-Soviet states, Turkey, the West, and Israel against Iran and Russia, with China likely adopting a neutral stance.

The War in Ukraine and its Impacts on the USA Russian-speaking Jewish community

From the first days of the Russian full-scale invasion into Ukraine in February 2022, there were confusions, misunderstandings, and fears spread within the Russian-speaking Jewish (RSJ) community in the United States.

Three Scenarios for the Crisis in Georgia

The revolutionary situation in Georgia could reach its climax on December 29, influenced by two factors: external and domestic. The situation could escalate dramatically as mass demonstrations in support of Salome Zourabichvili continue. Protesters demand that Zourabichvili remain in office. The current government may resort to force to oust Salome Zourabichvili, potentially including her arrest.

Carrots and Sticks: Donald Trump’s View of a Diplomatic Resolution to the Russia-Ukraine War

There is still a little over a month to go before Donald Trump, elected to a second term on November 5, 2024, returns to the White House, but the outlines of the first “100 days” of his policy, albeit at the declarative level, are already quite clear.

Sniper Rifles and Microchips: Who Enables the Russian War Machine in Ukraine

Western weapons and electronic components continue to surface in Russian military hardware deployed in Ukraine, despite ongoing international efforts to restrict Moscow’s access to advanced technology. Recent reports from both European and Ukrainian investigative sources indicate that key Western-manufactured parts, including microchips and optical systems, have been identified in Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other military equipment used in the war.

Palestinian Arabs in the Context of Russia’s Demand for Leadership of the Global South and Conflict with the West

Vladimir Putin’s second presidential term (2004–2008) was marked by Moscow’s obvious desire to regain its status as a global superpower, which had been lost by the Soviet Union as a result of its defeat in the Cold War. The point of official departure from the former policy of open partnership with Western countries and close cooperation with NATO was the so-called 2007 Munich Speech of the Russian President and the invasion of Georgia that followed in August 2008.

Kazakhstan And Brics: Cooperation Without Participation

Kazakhstan refuses to join BRICS, an organization that Russia (and to some extent China) sees as an alternative to the Western-centric world order. Clearly, such a decision inevitably invites retaliatory pressure from Russia. To offset this to some extent, and for a number of other pragmatic reasons, Kazakhstan continues to actively participate in BRICS+ activities.