Russia's Relations With the Post-Soviet States in the Assessments of Russian and Foreign Studies

Abstract

The scientific article focuses on the peculiarities of Russia's interaction with the states of the post-Soviet space in the historical perspective and at the present stage. The positions of both Russian and foreign researchers are evaluated. The main concept of the study is the idea that interstate interaction within the post-Soviet space should be based on a balance of interests and mutual benefit. It is emphasized that the term «post-Soviet space» was introduced by the Lithuanian political scientist A. Prazauskas. There is no single position among researchers on the question of its use nowadays: some believe that there is no such historical and political phenomenon as the post-Soviet space, while others believe that at the present stage it is impossible to talk about the existence of the post-Soviet space in its original form, since this term has already acquired a historical character, and others emphasize his attention is focused on the fact that it is quite justified to use this scientific construction at the present time when describing modern relations between Russia and neighboring countries. At the same time, the authors of this scientific article, by comparing different opinions on the phenomenon of the post-Soviet space, form their own point of view, considering the use of this scientific construction justified. Such a judgment is argued by the fact that the socio-economic, political and cultural ties of the countries of the former USSR, which have their roots far back in the past, are the foundation of close relations between the studied states. Therefore, it is still important for the Russian Federation to have and maintain good diplomatic relations with countries that were previously part of the Soviet Union, because this refers to the strategic zone of interests of the Russian state. At the same time, the Russian Federation should not allow destabilization in the region (as may be indicated by the recent use of CSTO forces in Kazakhstan or a little earlier in Nagorno-Karabakh, and currently conducting a military special operation on the territory of Ukraine to protect Donbass).