Russia-Ukraine war: Putin finds himself tested even by most reliable allies

Central Asia remains tethered to Russia through basics like trade and pipelines, and that won't change overnight

Slumped, underwhelmed and mildly irked, Vladimir Putin listened in silence as Tajikistan’s veteran autocrat Emomali Rahmon seized the opportunity presented by a regional get-together to berate the Russian president, issue rambling counsel and demand “respect.” It was a snapshot of Moscow’s current predicament, eight months into a supposed blitzkrieg in Ukraine — and more telling than either side intended.
 

Tajikistan is not just any ally. It’s a poor nation of some 10 million that’s home to Moscow’s largest overseas military base. Remittances made up more than a quarter of its GDP even during the pandemic, most of that from migrant