Russia: Squeezing its neighbors

Should Europeans worry about their growing dependence on Russian energy? For a not very reassuring answer, they need only look to Georgia. It’s a case study in intimidation.

Vladimir Putin was feeling indignant. Why don’t Europeans trust Russia? “I constantly hear complaints” that Europe is “overly dependent” on Russian energy, he griped last week to German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Siberian city of Tomsk. “But Russia is a reliable partner. It always has been.”

Really? Ask the Georgians