Juris Paiders on the customs union as Soviet-nostalgia

The will to regain power and a sense of pragmatism define the customs union founded between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan at the beginning of the year, writes Juris Paiders in the daily Neatkarīgā rīta avīze: "The customs union has considerable ideological backing in Russian society. For outsiders, the foundation of the customs union can be seen as a step towards restoring the USSR. But while the Soviet friendship between nations was driven by the Red Army's bayonets, the customs union is obviously a civilised agreement for re-establishing the Russian empire; the judicial systems of other member states are voluntarily allowing themselves to be adjusted to suit Russia's interests. This can be presented to the general public as a renewal of Russia's power, to the delight of fans of the empire in Russia. In other member states the Soviet nostalgia is confined to very practical considerations. Although big business and the underworld support the customs union, many living in both Kazakhstan and Belarus see the negative aspects and the losses that arise from this development."

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