page_title: Puppet state
section_title: Russia
hierarchical_section_title: Puppet state / Examples / Current puppet states / Russia
caption_attribution_description: Русский: Евгений Шевчук и Александр Анкваб подписывают Совместное заявление (2013)
context_page_description: A puppet state, puppet régime or puppet government is a state that is de jure independent but de facto completely dependent upon an outside power and subject to its orders. Puppet states have nominal sovereignty, but a foreign power effectively exercises control through means such as financial interests, economic or military support.
  Puppet states are distinguished from allies, which choose their actions on their own or in accordance with treaties they voluntarily entered. Puppet states are forced into providing legal endorsement for actions already taken by a foreign power.
context_section_description:  Abkhazia is considered a puppet state that depends on Russia. The economy of Abkhazia is heavily integrated with Russia and uses the Russian ruble as its currency. About half of Abkhazia's state budget is financed with aid money from Russia. Most Abkhazians have Russian passports. Russia maintains a 3,500-strong force in Abkhazia with its headquarters in Gudauta, a former Soviet military base on the Black Sea coast. The borders of the Republic of Abkhazia are being protected by the Russian border guards.
   South Ossetia has declared independence but its ability to maintain independence is solely based on Russian troops deployed on its territory. As South Ossetia is landlocked between Russia and Georgia, from which it seceded, it has to rely on Russia for economic and logistical support, as its entire exports and imports and air and road traffic is only between Russia. Former President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity claimed he would like South Ossetia eventually to become a part of the Russian Federation through reunification with North Ossetia.
   Transnistria – is sometimes considered a puppet state which is supported by Russia.
   Donetsk People's Republic – is considered to be a puppet state which is supported by Russia
   Lugansk People's Republic – is considered to be a puppet state which is supported by Russia
caption: Abkhazian President Alexander Ankvab with Transnistrian President Yevgeny Shevchuk in 2013
exif: {"Image Make": "Canon", "Image Model": "Canon EOS-1D X", "Image XResolution": "240", "Image YResolution": "240", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)", "Image DateTime": "2013:09:29 13:36:15", "Image Artist": "psp_msv2013", "Image ExifOffset": "232", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "874", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "11605", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/200", "EXIF FNumber": "7/2", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Manual", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "640", "EXIF SensitivityType": "Recommended Exposure Index", "EXIF RecommendedExposureIndex": "640", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0230", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2013:09:29 09:34:52", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2013:09:29 09:34:52", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "477741/62500", "EXIF ApertureValue": "361471/100000", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "3", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash fired, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "65", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "62", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "62", "EXIF FocalPlaneXResolution": "144", "EXIF FocalPlaneYResolution": "144", "EXIF FocalPlaneResolutionUnit": "4", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Manual Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Manual", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF BodySerialNumber": "083015000412", "EXIF LensSpecification": "[24, 70, 0/0, 0/0]", "EXIF LensModel": "EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM", "EXIF LensSerialNumber": "9615006318"}