Publication

This paper maps Russian policies towards the conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. The first section discusses Russia's role in the conflicts during the 1990s and gives background information on the secessionist conflicts in Georgia and Moldova. The second section examines policy trends in the Russian Federation that have given rise to political self-confidence. The final section analyses how Russian self-confidence has resulted in proactive policies towards secessionist entities, including political, economic and diplomatic support, state-building assistance, maintaining the status quo, making use of the 'Kosovo precedent' and taking over some of the institutions of the secessionist entities.