The ‘Near Abroad’ (Ближнее Зарубежьe) in Russian Rhetoric and Law
Journal: German Yearbook of International Law
Year: 2024

Abstract: The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Nevertheless, the idea of a Eurasian region with a common culture and destiny remained. This idea was expressed in the term ‘near abroad’, which from the Russian perspective encompassed all the former Soviet republics. However, it soon became clear that this vision was not necessarily shared by those concerned. The Baltic States switched sides; other States such as Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova were torn between Europe and the ‘Russkiy mir’. The deve