INFLUENȚA FEDERAȚIEI RUSE ÎN ASIA CENTRALĂ ÎN CONTEXTUL RĂZBOIULUI DIN UCRAINA

Is Russia losing its influence in Central Asia? To what extent has the attitude of the Central Asian population towards the Russian Federation changed since the outbreak of the war of aggression in Ukraine? This study aims to examine whether or not Russia has lost influence in Central Asia and to explain its foreign policy towards Central Asian republics in the context of President Vladimir Putin’s decision to use military means to achieve his security and foreign policy goals. For a more complete answer, opinion polls in the region, political discourse and foreign policy strategies of the actors involved were analysed. The result is surprising. Russia has not lost much credibility and influence in the region. The public opinion barometer on attitudes towards the Russian Federation has not changed significantly over the period under review.