Easway-Russia relations are the foreign diplomatic relations between the two countries of the Common Union of Easway and the Russian Federation. Easway is a breakaway micronation located in southern and eastern Svalbard which declared independence 19 December 2017 and shares a maritime border with Russia through the Barents Sea. Unofficial relations were maintained between the two countries from Easway's independence until February 2022, through the Russian consulate located in Svalbard's Barentsburg.
Overview
Easway and Russia both share history within the Barents Sea and share a maritime border with each other. History between the Easwegian and Russian people goes back to the 10th century when nomadic Easwegians travelled through today's Russia to reach the white sea and eventually travel through the Barents Sea to Bear Island, Hopen, southern Spitsbergen and Vardø. This Easwegian Commonwealth held sporadic contact with Russia through the Pomors travellers, integrating cultural and religious customs into the Easwegian nation. These relations ended when the Easwegian Commonwealth ceased to be a state in 1821.
From Easwegian independence 19 December 2017, Easway attempted to maintain neutral relations with Russia, promoting cultural ties and advocating the economic advantages of further bilateral relations. Although no official diplomatic ties were formed, the Easwegian government maintained unofficial relations through the Russian consulate in Barentsburg through two Consul-Generals: Vyacheslav Nikolayev (2016–19) and Sergei Gushchin (2019–22). Easway has since before independence supported the popular position of the residents of Vardø and the position of the Russian Government to dismantle the GLOBUS radar system located on Vardø island, widely reported to be a spy network, a source of immense international tension.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022, Easway reversed its position of neutrality and placed limited sanctions on Russia in trade of resources that could be used in aid of military application. An immediate deterioration of relations followed between Boriopa City and Moscow. Sergei Gushchin was replaced in July 2023 and no relations have been reported since.
Timeline
2022 - Present
Easway rejects Russia's recognition of the People's Republic of Donetsk and People's Republic of Luhansk.21 February 2022 - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Easway rejects Russia's recognition of the breakaway Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, stating that no recognition should be recognised without properly conducted fair referendums, not appropriate within land that is under military dictatorship propped up by Russia.
24 February 2022 - Russia launches a full scale operation into Ukraine.
25 February 2022 - Easway announces limited sanctions on Russia, authored by the Minister of the Interior Demitrou Chostacovitch, and accepted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a vote of the Easway's federal Council. Included on the list of embargoed resources are any that could aid in military application, mainly oil, rubber, steel and minerals.
February 2022 embargo by Easway on Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine
Grand Councillor Emizerri took over as the sole supreme commander-in-chief in August 2022 and pursued a policy of full support for Ukraine and instituted the Administrative and Resource Maximisation Plan the same month to ease the economic downfall Easway had faced since the beginning of the invasion. Marshal Oleksiy, a Crimean Tatar Ukrainian was elevated to Grand Marshal in February 2023 and has served as co-commander-in-chief of the Easwegian National Guard since. He resigned in August 2023 and Emizerri took over as sole supreme commander.
A map of Russian missiles fired in the vicinity of Easway in August 2023
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