Chase Johnson
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, three countries in the South
Caucasus once ruled by the former Soviet Union, still operate in the
shadow of what is now called Russia.
The three states are located between Iran and Turkey on the western
side and Russia to the north. What happens in them affects Russian
interests in the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, over the last 18 years, has
maintained strong political, military and economic relations – sometimes
welcome, sometimes not – with these countries and their leaders in an
attempt to keep them on Russia’s side. Russia’s intervention in Syria’s civil war and its growing alliances with Iran and Turkey makes maintaining influence over the South Caucasus states even more enticing for Putin. He wants to be the guy in charge.
