Since a few days ago, Crimea officially "belongs" to the Russian Federation. Observers are wondering if President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, has his eye on other countries on the periphery of the Russian Federation.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are called Baltic states because of their position on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, but also because of the sea itself.
Power in these three countries was taken over by the Soviet Union in 1940. They were also the first three countries to break away from the USSR in 1991, declare independence and turn to the West.
These three countries have long been members of the EU and NATO. However, Russia's shadow has long loomed over the region, as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are still significantly dependent on oil and gas from Russia.
Photo: Deutsche Welle
Estonia: A quarter of the 1,3 million inhabitants of this country are of Russian origin. This country is rich in forests and has more than 1.500 islands. Estonia is considered to be a stepping stone country for Internet entrepreneurs.
Latvia: During the Soviet Union, this country was highly industrialized and attracted Russian immigrants like a magnet. More than a quarter of the population, and there are about two million of them, speak Russian today. The Latvian economy is mainly reflected in agriculture, fishing and forestry.
Lithuania: Lithuania, with its three million inhabitants, was the first country to declare independence from the Soviet Union. However, even today there are close economic ties with Russia. Russia is the largest trade partner of this country. Almost 18 percent of Lithuanian exports go to the neighboring country.
Neighbors of the EU
Between the EU and Russia are Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. Belarus is already a member of the Russian Customs Union, while Ukraine and Moldova are still avoiding membership.
Belarus: After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus declared independence in 1991. Since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has ruled with a steel hand, who does not allow the privatization of state assets and who has a great interest in close relations with Russia. By the way, in Belarus there are almost no companies that are in private hands. Belarus is dependent on Russian oil. The transport of oil and gas from Russia to Europe mostly takes place via Belarus.
Ukraine: If we exclude the current events in Crimea, then it could be said that Ukraine, when it comes to language, history and politics, is a deeply divided country. The Russian language is the mother tongue for almost a third of the population. The eastern part of the country, where Russian is spoken, is pro-Russian. Ukraine is important to Russia because of the supply of foodstuffs, and it is also a crossroads for the export of Russian energy products. The country is an important supplier of water and electricity to the Crimean peninsula.
Photo: Deutsche Welle
Moldova: About four million inhabitants live in Moldova. The country belonged to Romania until 1940, until it was annexed by the Soviet Union. Moldova has a great potential for divisions within the country itself, especially in the regions of Transnistria and Gagauzia. Transnistria is located in the east of the country along the border with Ukraine and has about 200.000 inhabitants - an ethnic mix of Moldovans, Ukrainians and Russians. In 1990, just one year before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Transnistria declared independence from the Republic of Moldova, as there was a fear that Moldova would rejoin Romania. Russia subsidized pensions in Transnistria and financed troops in the region. In a disputed referendum in 2006, 97 percent of the population voted to join the Russian Federation.
Gagauzia is the second autonomous region in the Republic of Moldova that is under Russian influence. About 155.000 people live in the region, most of whom are Gagauz, an ethnic group of Turkish origin of the Orthodox faith. At the referendum held at the beginning of 2014, closer relations with Russia and membership in Putin's Eurasian Union were decided. Almost 99 percent of voters voted against the Agreement on association and association with the EU.
In an effort to establish closer contact with the Republic of Moldova, the EU is negotiating an Association and Association Agreement with the government. Russia wants the opposite and invites Moldova to become a member of the Customs Union.
What kind of thing
The Caucasus region is a combination of Europe and Asia and is considered the most linguistically and culturally diverse region in the world, but also a hotbed of conflicts. Unlike Azerbaijan, most of the countries of the region in the post-Soviet era did not stand on their own feet economically, which led to major social unrest.
Russian influence on the region is still enormous. The biggest problems exist in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan.
Photo: Deutsche Welle
Abkhazia: In 1999, Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia, which still considers the region apostate. Russia is trying to use its influence and in a relatively short time invests money in Abkhazia, which has about 250.000 inhabitants. Since 2010, Russian air defense missiles have been stationed in Abkhazia.
South Ossetia: After Russia recognized it as an independent state after the war in Georgia in 2008, South Ossetia is still an isolated enclave dependent on Russian money. Unemployment is high as are prices. South Ossetia has been advocating for years to join the Russian Federation. The region has about 70.000 inhabitants.
Ingushetia: Ingushetia is an autonomous republic within the Russian Federation. Most of the approximately 400.000 Ingush are Muslim. Tribal origin plays an important role in society.
Chechnya: Chechnya declared its independence from Russia in 1991. Three years later, the Kremlin sent troops to reassert its authority. The first Czech war followed, in which the Russian forces were defeated. The war lasted until 1996. However, Russian troops returned to Chechnya in 1999. Despite Russia's financial injections for reconstruction, unemployment and poverty are widespread throughout the country. About 1,25 million people live in Chechnya.
Dagestan: Dagestan, like Ingushetia and Chechnya, is an autonomous republic within Russia where mostly Muslims live. Although 3,5 percent of the total three million inhabitants are of Russian origin, the Russian language is the official language. The main industrial sectors are oil and gas production as well as fishing. The authorities in the country are loyal to Moscow, but also very corrupt.
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