Russia pursues political rather than economic goals

Russian political analyst Valentin Bogatirov, Head of Analytical Consortium Perspective, thinks that a customs union created by Russia and uniting Kazakhstan and Belarus is not an economic one but rather a political instrument. There is one major instrument in such an amalgamation– it is the price for oil and gas. Thus, Russia on the one hand wants to control the energy producing segment of Kazakhstan and on the other hand, keep its interest protecting while distributing oil and gas worldwide.