Energetic Integration?
Russia’s Conflict over Energy with Belarus
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
At the start of 2007, the conflict over energy between Russia and Belarus – which had been brewing for years – escalated. Moscow imposed a drastic curtailment of economic privileges which Belarus had enjoyed for years at Russia’s expense. This does not fit the scheme of things by which Russia punishes disagreeable governments and rewards loyal regimes. After several years of effort, Russia seems to have given up the project of political integration in the form of a union with Belarus and is following considerations of economic interests. For the independence of the Belarusian economy and the Lukashenka regime, this has serious consequences.
(Osteuropa 4/2007, pp. 65–76)