The changing framework of Russian foreign policy in the Caucasus after Georgian-Russian War

With the disintegration of Soviet Union, Russia that emerged as the one of the fifteen states was faced with economic and political difficulties. Despite of this, it overcame economic problem using its natural resources. With Putin's presidency, political stability was provided. At the beginning, it was kept good relation with the West, because the necessary economic helps could not be taken, Russia started to produce more active policies with the effect of Eurasianism ideas. It tried to develop relations with the countries that are in the ex-Soviet territory and paid attention to the natural resources there. It continued its influence using old ties and Russian speaking people. After these countries gained their independence, the Western countries that need the energy started to develop their relations. At the beginning, the Western countries followed policies using Russia. The Western countries searches alternative routes and resources. Naturally, the struggle of power and effect started between Russia and the Western countries in this region. Russia created " Near Abroad Policy" and started to apply it because it did not want influence of the other powers in its near abroad. In relation to this, Russia declared to the world with Russian-Georgian war that it would not avoid to use force for its benefits. Georgian war was the turning point for Russia and it is the first intervention outside its borders after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Russia was effective more, increased its struggles to modernize the army, paid much attention to the events that occur outside its border in the world. Especially, it paid attention to save the current status in the Karabakh problem in the South Caucasus. It did not give permission the growth of the conflict using its effects on conflicted countries with stability that emerge from instability. The aim of this study is to reveal Russia's changing policy in the Caucasus after Russian Georgian war that was in August 2008. It was searched the events and relations. The descriptive-historical approach method was used. The growing military expenses, growing tendency of use of power and growing struggle of influence against the Western countries especially in its near abroad showed us Russian policy changed in this region. Key words: The Soviet Union, Near Abroad Policy, Caucasus, Russian Georgian War