Signal Most Eurasian states abstained or stayed away from the March 2022 UN vote condemning Russia

Summary

The report points out that smaller Eurasian members try to avoid actions that look like a challenge to Russia in order to prevent conflict. Belarus and Kazakhstan pursue cooperation with third partners in economics and diplomacy to balance Russian influence, but do not make that balancing their core goal. On the UN General Assembly resolution of 2 March 2022 condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Georgia was the exception, while Armenia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan abstained and Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan did not vote. These states have also kept up trade and communication with Russia, and positions across the region range from restraint and neutrality to passive or, in the case of Belarus, strong support. The authors present this as one of many consequences of the power asymmetry between Russia and its neighbours.