1. 1Central Asia refers here to the five CIS states of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Of these only Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are Caspian Sea littoral states. This article examines Russian policy more broadly around the Caspian Sea to the extent that it illuminates Russian policy in Central Asia, especially in the fields of energy and security policies.
2. 3For the expectation that Putin will assert Russian influence in Central Asia more actively after the Duma elections, see e.g. 'Gosudarstvennyy interes ili imperskaya nostal'giya',Nezavisimaya gazeta, 26 Jan. 2004.
3. 4Report sent to President Putin by Russian foreign policy experts, transcribed in 'America as Russia's strategic ally',Nezavisimaya gazeta, 29 Oct. 2003.