Russia forms strategic policy for Caucasus – expert

Russia realized that the Caucasus was the zone of its vital interests and expansion of foreign presence in the region was an exceptionally big systemic risk, as stated by Maksim Shevchenko, member of the Russian Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations.

Negotiations with Georgia, Abkhazia, President Vladimir Putin’s discussions of security in Azerbaijan and his upcoming meeting in Tehran are interconnected, the expert believes. Shevchenko emphasized that Russia was trying to form strategic policy for the Caucasus. Russia expects Abkhazia to take part in the common dialogue of the Caucasus in exchange for benefits it is given. Georgia is the most important strategic partner and target for Russia in the region, Shevchenko notes.

Russia has always fought for Georgia with Turkey, he reminds. The war for Georgia turned into a struggle by means of money and political steps. Shevchenko added that Russia could not allow Saakashvili’s Georgia to turn into a Turkish economic submittal, with all respect to Turkey and its people.