The Stans want nothing to do with Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
Central Asia’s post-Soviet republics have maintained a studied silence on the war
IT WAS ONCE part of the Soviet Union, shares a long border with Russia and counts among its citizens a large ethnic-Russian minority. Russian nationalists lay claim to swathes of its territory and President Vladimir Putin has in the past cast aspersions on its statehood. Gennady Zyuganov, the leader of Russia’s Communist Party, has accused it of Russophobia and the oppression of Russian-speakers. Little wonder then that Kazakhstan is watching Mr Putin’s invasion of Ukraine with apprehension verging on horror.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Silent Stans”
Asia March 26th 2022
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- A new film on Kashmir has found a fan in Narendra Modi
- The Stans want nothing to do with Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
- South Korea’s president-elect starts with an unpopular personal project
- Joko Widodo is considering extending his term in office
From the March 26th 2022 edition
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