ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of Russia’s strategy before turning to the case studies. Because there is so much ground to cover, each treatment will necessarily be brief, with an emphasis on identifying Moscow’s role in the frozen conflict and how its actions correspond to this larger strategy. Since the Russian Federation emerged as an independent country, it has sought to create a near-exclusive sphere of influence within the former Soviet space, excluding the Baltics. Russian authorities believe that a central security interest of their state is to obstruct outside powers from encroaching on its sphere of influence without its consent. The origins of the August War are still a matter of dispute, but what is certain is that Russia increasingly saw its security interests as being threatened by the possibility that Western influence would spread into the South Caucasus. Russian support for Transnistria has been extensive, though not as great as that in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
