“Treated like outsiders”: Putin must endure angry speech from allied head of state Severe turbulence on flight from Madrid to Buenos Aires – 12 injured

Russia is isolated like never before. The illegal war of aggression against Ukraine has pushed the country aside. Russia is weakened and its allies feel the same – especially the post-Soviet states of Central Asia.

“Putin never saw this region as a place he could lose in the near future,” Central Asia expert Temur Umarov told Watson. The political scientist conducts research at the Carnegie Foundation for International Peace. Russia is increasingly losing influence, trust and respect among Central Asian heads of state.

One of them leans far out of the window and dares to publicly scold Putin. Tajikistan President Emomalij Rahmon teaches Putin a lesson at the Astana summit with a heated and emotional speech.

But how did it come to this?

The war in Ukraine changed the dynamics

According to the expert Umarov, the mood has changed since the war in Ukraine. According to him, this was also felt at the summit. The Central Asian statesmen seemed to distance themselves from Putin, according to the experts. Umarov suspects that they did not want to pose loudly and kindly next to Putin – after all, that would damage their reputation in the international community. On the other hand, they enjoy the great attention they are now getting from Putin.

The expert says:

Central Asian countries see Russia’s isolation and weakness as an opportunity to achieve goals unimaginable before the war in Ukraine, Umarov says. “Some are taking advantage of the situation to slowly drift away from Russia and replace it with other allies,” said the political scientist. Others, such as Tajik President Rahmon, are boldly making higher demands on Russia.

Rahmon’s Angry Speech Against the Russian President

Rahmon is still considered Putin’s closest ally in the region, which made his words to the Russian president all the more surprising. “We expect you to respect us”, he says sternly and continues:

Rahmon addresses Putin directly and says: Tajikistan and other countries in the vast region have been treated as outsiders. He suggests that the region deserves more investment from Moscow.

Putin looks tense as Rahmon lectures him to the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

However, according to Umarov, this speech should not be misinterpreted. He does not see it as a sign that Putin is losing Tajikistan, his closest ally. Rahmon follows a different calculation.

Umarov says:

Rahmon feels free to publicly criticize Russian policy in Central Asia. According to Umarov, he has good relations with Putin. Moreover, Rahmon is the last statesman to lead his country since Soviet times. That is why, according to Umarov, he feels privileged to utter these harsh words towards Putin.

Tajikistan wants to be rewarded for its loyalty

It’s about money and safety. According to Umarov, Rahmon wants more Russian investment in his country. “He also wants Russia to do more to stabilize and secure Tajikistan,” the expert said. It’s also about securing the border with Afghanistan and Rahmon’s concerns about the Taliban.

According to Umarov, the Russian “Military Base 201” in Tajikistan is no longer equipped as it used to be. The number of Russian soldiers is drastically decreasing. “Before the war in Ukraine, 6,000 Russians were stationed there. According to media reports, the number has halved», he says. Russia’s attention is completely focused on the war in Ukraine.

Umarov further says:

Russia has never prioritized Central Asia in its foreign policy, and at the same time, Putin did not anticipate that this region would ever revolt. According to Umarov, Putin was sure the region needed Russia. But the tide has turned. “Central Asia does not see Russia as a stable partner,” Umarov says. According to Rahmon, they want the same commitment that Putin has in African countries, for example.

Russian involvement in Africa is greater than in Central Asia, Umarov says. In his opinion, there is a good chance for Russia to compete with other countries for influence and resources. In Central Asia, Putin assumed that Russia had a “sole position”. But then came China.

China as Central Asia’s New Partner

China recognizes and uses the potential of Central Asia. For example, the Chinese “Belt and Road Project” aims to connect the Central Asian countries with the global economy. Chinese President Xi Jinping dreams of a modern “Silk Road” to economically connect the entire world.

Benefits of Central Asia – through Chinese investment. According to Umarov, this puts Russia in the shadows. According to Umarov, Kazakhstan is particularly affected by this.

Kazakhstan is Russia’s lost child

According to the expert, Kazakhstan is trying to break away from Russia wherever possible. In doing so, it relies on the support of other countries, such as China. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced that he does not support the war in Russia. “It also shows that he needs to be confident in his position as president. Say he doesn’t expect riots like in January,” Umarov said. At the time, Tokaev was still dependent on Putin’s support to stabilize the situation. But now everything is different.

Russia needs to do more in Central Asia

According to Umarov, Russia has failed to capitalize on the opportunities that Central Asia offers for decades. Putin now understands that he needs to pay more attention to the region before these post-Soviet countries become proactive partners. The insurgency in Central Asia means that Russia must invest more time, energy and resources to secure its position in the region.

Umarov summarizes: