Why Putin went to Astana
Russian propaganda is promoting Vladimir Putin’s visit to Kazakhstan and his talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasizing the “unchanging friendship and strategic partnership” as well as the grand reception given to the Russian leader.
For the Kremlin, it is now crucial to create the illusion of Russia’s lack of isolation and to project an image of complete hegemony in the post-Soviet space. This visit to Kazakhstan largely serves these purposes.
At the same time, Russia avoids addressing its strained relations with Astana, which recently stopped servicing the cards of sanctioned Russian banks and refused to join BRICS.
The visit also focuses heavily on Russia’s traditional “victory narrative.” The Kremlin is already actively preparing for the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II and is making every effort to involve as many leaders from former Soviet Union states and Eastern Europe as possible. The aim is to reinforce the illusion of Russia’s dominance in the region.
