Analyses

• Russia uses the crisis to build influence in CIS countries

  In recent weeks Russia, itself struggling with a serious economic crisis, has undertaken a number of measures designed to expand its influence in those CIS countries which are even more severely affected by the crisis. In return for specific economic and political concessions, Moscow has been offering those countries stabilisation loans and investments. Russia has also been supporting the expansion of Russian companies, i.e. their efforts to buy out business assets in the CIS at the current, reduced prices. Seeking to implement its strategy quickly, Moscow is set on using the current opportunities, especially since other players (the West, China) may enter the regional game within the coming months, or Russia itself may run out of financial reserves.

• Russia tries to impose its own rules of the game on Central Asia

  On 3 February the president of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced that the agreement under which the US forces had been using the Manas airfield near Bishkek would be terminated. The announcement is the result of many years of Russian pressure on the Kyrgyz authorities and Russia's pledge to provide Kyrgyzstan with substantial financial assistance.