Russia: National Security, Near Abroad – Part 2

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]here are about 20 million ethnic Russians living abroad, of which 17.3 million, or 86.5%, are in Russia’s Near Abroad.  Russia has therefore to provide them efficiently with normal embassy services like visas, passports and protection in a foreign country.  Russia is also concerned about the coloured revolutions that are being fostered against Russia, like the Rose Revolution in Georgia, Orange Revolution in Ukraine, and the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan.

Apart from the crisis in Ukraine and Syria, Russian strategists have to plan a “Third Front,” for its Near Abroad. The rise of IS along the unstable Afghan-Turkmen border will need seven new armoured battalions, else there is likely to be a migrant crisis into Russia, bigger than the one to Europe.  In Tajikistan, the moderate Islamic Party of Islamic Rebirth has already sworn allegiance to IS.  ISIS is gaining momentum as it pays its fighters seven times what Al Qaeda does.³     South of Russia, Turkey is beginning to flex its muscles as its air space is theoretically being protected by US war planes.⁴

Commentator Sridharun⁵ echoes Russia’s concerns when he notes that Russia’s main worry is a series of threats from NATO and the coloured revolutions.  NATO is also capable of using biological weapons and indulging in cyber warfare.  Russia also sees an increase of military infrastructure on its borders. In addition, Britain has a thousand troops in Poland, and seems to be fighting a proxy war in Yemen.  Poland and Yemen are on the borders of Russia’s “sphere of influence.” As the “world’s police,” NATO frequently breaches international law. Russia therefore sees it necessary to adjust its national security position, once every six years.

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]U[/dropcap]S Senator Rand Paul⁶ would like to see Russia labelled a “highly dangerous country.” By America’s Security Act, visa clearances would take a month and it would place Russia with many Muslim countries on the danger list.  As Rand Paul is no longer a presidential candidate, his suggestion might be ignored.

For his obstinacy and stubbornness, Putin has been targeted with a smear campaign.  He is blamed for imprisoning and killing his opponents.  Mikhail Khodorkovsky comes to mind.  He was imprisoned for ten years for allegedly killing a Siberian mayor in 1998, and for fraud, tax evasion and embezzlement.  His political spokesperson may have hit the nail on the head when he said that Khodorkovsky was a “prisoner of conscience.” His son, Pavel, said that he was a “moral leader.” Khodorkovsky wanted his party, Open Russia, to promote more democracy.  Khodorkovsky was the richest man in Russia: among his assets were 9.5% shares in Yukos, valued at $11 billion.  With other friendly oligarchs who had political clout, he brought Boris Yeltsin to power and gained commercial privileges. Khodorkovsky was released from jail in May 2014, when he promised to leave the country and stay out of politics.⁷

Part 1 can be accessed here. To be continued…

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.

Bibliography

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