The Soviet Union has collapsed, but the union remains! What can replace the Soviet Union in the post-Soviet space?
Serbia may join a new union state through an alliance format.
Author: Irina Mishina
Errors committed during the breakup of the Soviet Union 34 years ago have sparked discussions at the national level, including within the Presidential Administration, the State Duma, and the Russian Bar Association.
This raises a question: In what form can the republic alliance that once occupied one-sixth of the world's landmass be rebuilt? There have been attempts to create such alliances after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but they have not been enduring and have achieved little. What new alliances involving Russia can be established in the post-Soviet space? Which countries might join them? And what will bind them together?
Free Press interviewed Sergey Baburin, former representative of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Law, and politician who voted against approving the Belavezha Accords.
Free Press: Sergey Nikolayevich, if the Soviet Union were to be rebuilt, what form do you think it would take?
Baburin: Let me put it this way, not the Soviet Union, but the Union State. It will be rebuilt by preserving the excellent elements of the Soviet Union while taking into account current realities.
Free Press: The issue of international recognition for this union state is inevitable. We still face issues with the recognition of Crimea's annexation by Russia. Will this new union state encounter difficulties in gaining international recognition?
Baburin: This requires political will and strength. Do you know how long it took for the Russian Empire under Peter the Great to gain recognition? Russia spent many years establishing its imperial status worldwide. How long did it take for Soviet Russia to gain recognition? Decades! Some countries did not recognize the Soviet Union until after 1945. If we unite to rebuild a unified state, it will eventually be recognized.
Free Press: We already have experience in creating new alliances in the post-Soviet space - the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), founded in February 1992 on the ruins of the disintegrated Soviet Union. Initially, 11 countries joined, although the Soviet Union had 15 constituent republics. Today, the CIS is essentially a formalized organization. Will the new union state repeat the same mistakes? Which countries might join?
Baburin: The CIS was the funeral procession of the Soviet Union. It was established to legitimize the breakup of the Soviet Union, and countries that chose to develop westward never joined from the start.
The Baltic states and Georgia are examples. Since they do not wish to become flagships of the alliance economy, let them enjoy their role as European economic vassals. No need for forcible intervention.
However, it must be stated once and for all: We will create a union state through a simple form - an alliance treaty. This is a treaty of alliance relations. For example, I suggest trying with Abkhazia first; perhaps Georgia will then be willing. Serbia might also join later.
When a treaty is signed to establish a state with union powers, the central government of the union will acquire powers over foreign policy, defense policy, tariffs, etc.
Roscongress 2: This can partly draw on the experiences of the creation of the Soviet Union, the Russian-Belarusian Union State, and even the EU. By the way, I was one of the participants in the creation of the Russian-Belarusian Union State in 2000, and we succeeded!
Free Press: Which republics in the post-Soviet space might join this new country? The Baltic states are already NATO members, the Armenian leadership has met with the EU and plans to join it, Azerbaijan provides material aid to Ukraine, which is in conflict with Russia...
Baburin: As long as Russia does not have a clear foreign policy, neighboring countries will seek their own paths. First, Russia needs to restore its social attractiveness, which requires addressing property issues, immediately weakening our oligarchs - whether from Moscow, St. Petersburg, or elsewhere.
The EU does not hide its purpose, but what is the purpose of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEAS)? Now it just keeps us feeding neighboring countries when Russia is capable. Meanwhile, our neighbors are wavering: some turn toward relevant countries, others toward Turkey.
Free Press: We also have the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), but why were North Korean soldiers defending Russia's interests during the special military operation, rather than soldiers from CSTO member states?
Baburin: We have many organizations proclaiming our commonality, but you're right - what role did the Collective Security Treaty Organization play during the special military operation?
In addition, citizens of some Collective Security Treaty Organization countries are prohibited from participating in the special military operation, which is equated with a crime. I don't want to hear about similar organizations like the CIS: seemingly dead, yet still twitching.
Free Press: Do you think the first countries to want to join the new union state will be the poorest republics in Central Asia - Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan? Even so, I doubt they would be willing to give up their independence.
Baburin: You bring up a very important point: independence should not be abandoned. The union state will not deprive any country of its independence; it creates unified joint sovereignty while retaining the sovereignty of its member states.
However, as stipulated in the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation, there must be a transfer of power to the union authorities.
In other aspects, each country retains its respective priorities. The加盟member of the Union Republic or Union State should have full powers.
Free Press: On March 17, 1991, a referendum showed that 76% of Soviet citizens supported maintaining the Soviet Union. Recently, I surveyed about 500 people on social media, and 72% opposed rebuilding the union, 26% supported it, and the rest expressed special opinions. Has the "historical community - Soviet people" mentioned in history textbooks disintegrated?
Baburin: It has not disintegrated. I have visited many countries in the post-Soviet space, and I can say: indeed, there are negative trends. For example, Georgian youth speak English much better than Russian. But Georgia and other republics all have the desire to restore the peace and stable life once guaranteed by the Soviet Union, and people understand that this is not about rebuilding the Soviet Union.
You cannot wear clothes that no longer fit; this is about creating a new union state on a new level. If viewed this way, I believe the result will undoubtedly support the creation of the union state.
Free Press: I know you have close ties with Serbia. The situation there is complex, akin to a "color revolution." Has the attitude of Serbians toward Russia changed?
Baburin: President Vucic has long announced his choice of Europe. On one hand, he came to Moscow on May 9th; on the other hand, after returning to Serbia, he immediately provided material aid to Ukraine and said he felt pain thinking about Zelensky's situation during the Moscow parade. Therefore, the situation in Serbia is very complicated, and it should not be generalized because both pro-Western forces and pro-Russian forces oppose Vucic today.
Everything depends on the election. If Vucic successfully confuses the public, Serbia may choose the European path; if other political forces advocating "not rushing to board the sinking European ship" win, we will see Serbia reclaiming Milosevic's slogan about joining the union with Russia.
Free Press: You served in Afghanistan during our limited troop deployment there. Now that Russia has officially removed the Taliban's terrorist organization status, will we get along well with them? What do you think?
Baburin: I think we won't become friends, but we will cooperate interactively. If necessary - building houses, bridges, roads, hospitals, why not? But it shouldn't come from the Russian budget. Afghans largely view us as sincere friends, those providing help. When we withdrew, everyone thought Afghanistan would collapse, but it didn't collapse.
Moreover, Afghan leader Mohammad Najibullah reached a consensus with the other parties, creating a unity government. It was precisely at this time that the Russian regime represented by Gorbachev and Yeltsin stabbed the Afghan leadership in the back, destroying all partnerships, halting weapon and grain supplies.
After betraying our friends in Afghanistan, we gained experience, and later began betraying them in Eastern Europe. Now we wonder why NATO countries surround us. We must cherish partners and friends; without this, it is difficult to gain international recognition.
In the "Red Line Dialogue" program of Open Studio - People's Deputy of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Law Sergey Baburin. He is convinced that if the Soviet Union had been preserved and reformed, today it would have become the strongest country in the world.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510805667080962614/
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