Russia's relations with Georgia within the context of the Russian national interests towards the South Caucasus in the post-Soviet era:1992-2005

Abstract

As far as the South Caucasus is concerned, the region represents a strategic region where Russia and the other countries, especially Turkey and the US have conflicting interests. The region is also of vital importance for the Russian Federation in terms of political, military and economic interests. In this sense, it is highly important and necessary to understand the Russian interests in the region in order to grasp the nature of the Russia's relations with Georgia in the post-Soviet era. The Russian approaches and policies towards ethnic conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are also essential in understanding the nature of Russian-Georgian relations in this period. Therefore, this article aims at not only explaining and analyzing Russian national interests towards the South Caucasus but also examining the Russian policies towards the Abkhazian and South Ossetian ethnic conflicts in Georgia in the post-Soviet era.