ABSTRACT

This chapter reviews the primary issues defining Russia-Kazakhstan relations during the period 1991-1994: those relating to their military and security associations. It outlines the specifics of the Republic's ethnic distribution and migration trends. Diplomatic relations between Russia and Kazakhstan officially began on 22 October 1992 with the establishment of consular embassies in both countries and were stable throughout the entire post-Soviet period. In 1992, Kazakhstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country with which Russia signed a Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. Another important aspect of Russia-Kazakhstan relations during this initial period after the collapse of the USSR related to the status of the Russian diaspora. Initial Russian disintegration from, intensified through independent Kazakhstan's turn to the principle of multi-polarity in political and economic policy-making, resulted not only in weak investment relationships between the countries, but also affected post-Soviet integration trends.