Of Kyrgyzstan, Russian Security Forces, and Putin’s Future – Russian Roulette Episode #26

In the latest edition of Russian Roulette, Olga and Jeff are excited to welcome Kadyr Toktogulov, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States, and Eric McGlinchey, Associate Professor of Government and Politics at George Mason University and an expert on Central Asia, to discuss Kyrgyzstan’s relationship with the United States and the geopolitics of Central Asia. But first, our hosts answer a few more of your questions in our second mailbag segment! They touch on the structure of Russia’s security services and the role of the newly-created National Guard and discuss whether Vladimir Putin is “trapped” by the political order he has built.

If you’re interested in hearing more from Ambassador Toktogulov, head to the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic to the USA and Canada’s website (http://bit.ly/2mZ0Lc9) and follow him on Twitter @KadyrToktogulov. If you want to read more of Eric McGlinchey’s work, check out his expert page at George Mason University (http://bit.ly/2mzryQM) and follow him on Twitter @ericmcglinchey.

As noted, keep sending us mailbag questions! If you would like to have your question answered on the podcast, send it to us! Email rep@csis.org and put “Russian Roulette” in the subject line. We look forward to hearing from you.