Russia in the Grey Zones

The 'grey zones' of Eastern Europe – Abkhazia, Crimea, the Donbas, Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Transnistria – constitute a central chapter in Moscow’s playbook for the neighbourhood. Russia uses them as strategic wedges to put pressure on and destabilise its neighbours. Keeping these unresolved conflicts going, typically by using local proxies, is part of Russia’s effort to bring its neighbours within its sphere of influence. Even in Nagorno-Karabakh, where Russia maintains no troops, the stand-off between Armenia and Azerbaijan enables Moscow to project power into the region. The ambiguity and instability inherent in these conflicts is itself a source of influence for Russia.

This is the second part of ECFR’s grey zones series. The first part sought to illustrate what life was like in the grey zones. This instalment looks at Russia’s role in Eastern Europe’s grey zones.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Life in the Grey Zones - Reports from Europe’s breakaway republics http://www.europeansources.info/record/life-in-the-grey-zones-reports-from-europes-breakaway-republics/

ESO: Background information: The Frozen Conflicts of the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood and Their Impact on the Respect of Human Rights http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-frozen-conflicts-of-the-eus-eastern-neighbourhood-and-their-impact-on-the-respect-of-human-rights/

ESO: Background information: Tusk tour focuses on frozen conflicts http://www.europeansources.info/record/tusk-tour-focuses-on-frozen-conflicts/

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