Publication

Policy brief by Kateryna Zarembo, IWP analyst, and Natalia Shapovalova, analyst at FRIDERussia has been labelled as an ‘autocracy promoter’ in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region. Yet it is also showing another, curious face as an avid democracy promoter.

Russia is not interested in bolstering a particular type of regime within its ‘sphere of privileged interests’ as an end in itself. Moscow’s varying support for autocracy or democracy in a neighbouring country should be seen as a means of maintaining its influence over a weaker neighbour. This does not mean that Russia is heading towards democratisation; rather, it points to its ability to employ different tactics, from promoting autocracy to supporting democracy, depending on what best suits its interest. The democratization agenda can become a pernicious weapon in the hands of an autocracy.

Full version of the policy brief is available here