Russia and Belarus: A Satellite with Room to Maneuver

Roman Chernikov on how Belarus has tried to preserve its sovereignty after 2022

Pariahs in the Same Boat: How the War Bound Moscow and Pyongyang

Roman Chernikov on the transformation of Russian-North Korean relations after 2022

Armenia and Russia: Rethinking the Relationship

Roman Chernikov examines whether Yerevan has truly broken with Moscow

Putin’s Outpost in Central Asia

Roman Chernikov on how Kyrgyzstan became Moscow’s unconditional ally

Pashinyan Visits Putin: Mutual Trolling

Roman Chernikov on what Putin and Pashinyan actually said to each other during the Armenian prime minister’s latest trip to Moscow

Living in the Middle: Central Asia’s 2025 in Review

Roman Chernikov on how the five Central Asian states have learned to speak with one voice

The End of Russian Hegemony: How Azerbaijan Rewrote the Rules in the Caucasus

Roman Chernikov on the transformation of the South Caucasus in 2025

A Preview of the Caucasus to Come

Roman Chernikov on how the interests of Moscow and Washington unexpectedly converged on the Caucasian rails — and why this doesn’t make life any easier for Yerevan

Phantom Presence

Roman Chernikov on how the Kremlin decided to ignore its own failures in the post-Soviet space

Either Peace or Transit

Roman Chernikov discusses the disputes over the Zangezur Corridor