title: Central Asia's Balancing Act
abstract: KassenovaC entral Asia is the Asian subregion most directly affected by Russia's war against Ukraine.It is part of Russia's "near abroad," and Moscow feels a special attachment and entitlement to this post-Soviet space.For the Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), the Kremlin's denial of Ukraine's sovereignty and Russia's incorporation of Ukrainian territories is very bad news because it undermines the founding principles of the post-Soviet secu
journal: Asia policy