A Growing Rift
The Decline of Russian-Central Asian Ties
May 2026
Bruce Pannier
Executive Summary A small group of Russian nationalists has been calling to “reclaim” Russia’s colonial territories since the Soviet Union collapsed in late 1991. After the Kremlin finally acted on these aspirations by invading parts of Ukraine, the number of Russian nationalists calling for the reconquest of areas seized by the Russian Empire or Soviet Union increased, and their cries grew louder. Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan, has been targeted in these remarks with increasing frequency since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022. Oddly, this irredentism comes as Russian xenophobia has focused on Central Asian migrant laborers working in Russia. Four years on from the launch of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine, some of the governments in Central Asia are becoming weary of enduring these threats of being reconquered by Russia. Officials in Central Asia are responding, and the number of Central Asian migrant laborers in Russia is dropping.
Tired of Hearing It Threatening remarks about reclaiming former colonial territories have been coming from Russian television personalities, influential figures, and even state officials, for years. Comments from officials in US President Donald Trump’s administration about acquiring, or seizing, Greenland, and the special operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the start of January this year, helped fuel nationalist commentary in Russia. Ultranationalist Vladimir Solovyov hosts the Russian television program “Solovyov Live” where he and his guests regularly talk about devastating Ukraine or destroying select European countries. On January 10, Solovyov said, “The games are over. International law and international order are irrelevant.” He continued that “If, for our national security, we needed to launch a strategic military operation on Ukrainian territory, why, for the same reasons, can’t we launch a strategic military
1