Alik Bakhshi
National interests of Russia In the speeches of President Putin on the international theme, one can often hear a phrase that, it seems to me, has become sacred - "Russia's national interests". Usually it sounds with reproach to the countries of the West, which, in Putin's opinion, should not only take into account Russia's national interests, but also respect them. True, Putin did not bother to disclose what the national interests of Russia really consist in, but judging by the military-political steps taken by Russia, they clearly go beyond its state borders, which is confirmed by the Russian invasion of Georgia and Ukraine, followed by the withdrawal of their territories. Thus, Russia's national interests inevitably face the national interests of other countries, and are defined only as aggression. Ukraine wanted to enter the European Union, but it turns out that such an desire is an independent country, violates the legitimate interests of another country - Russia. By the way, Putin said that Russia will not allow such actions by the neighboring country. It turns out that if an independent neighboring country, for example Finland, wants to join NATO, then Russia will have to wait for a military invasion, because maybe Finland too is falling under the legitimate interests of Russia.
I did not make a reservation, Moscow really believes that Russia's national interests are both its legitimate interests. This is confirmed by the words of Foreign Minister Lavrov: "The project of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline affects the legitimate interests of Russia."
http://Http://tass.ru/politika/1582470 It turns out that if a gas pipeline is laid between the independent countries of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan by the Caspian Sea, this action is a violation of Russian laws. It is possible that the construction of gas pipelines in general is a violation of international laws. In this case, laying a gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey on the bottom of the Black Sea is also not legal. Or, maybe, Russia asked permission from Georgia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria? Like Russia's request to the Black Sea countries with such a request was not observed. Hence the natural conclusion: all countries that were colonies of the Russian Empire, or as Moscow calls the post-Soviet space, fall under the legitimate interests of Russia. In other words, any independent decision of these countries, whether political or economic, may be in the field of Russian legislation. Exceptions are Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, which have issued themselves as members not only of the EU, but also of NATO. This fact points to the fact that Russia's legitimate interests began to operate with the appearance of Putin in the Kremlin; Under President Yeltsin, the demand for observance of Russia's legitimate interests in the post-Soviet space did not come from Moscow. Here Ukraine did not have time to hurry and was violated the Russian laws, overthrowing its president, Yanukovych. Thus, the removal of the president from power in any independent country, but the former colony of Russia, is a violation of Russia's legitimate interests. I suspect that they did not know about any legitimate interests of Russia in Ukraine when they started the Maidan, for which they received punishment in the form of the loss of part of their country. In short, ignorance of laws does not absolve from responsibility.
In fact, Putin should present a specific list of Russia's legitimate national interests, so that neighboring independent countries do not violate Russian law and pay for this territory.
Undoubtedly, each state has its own national interests, however, if the state was once part of the Russian Empire, then its national interests are inferior to Russia's national interests, which are legitimate. Dot!
The result - if your neighbor is Russia, then you can be either a vassal or an enemy.
08/18/17.
