Although the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, its pipeline
network remains today. Soviet pipelines embody the de-facto
hegemony of Russia. In a geopolitical context, most countries
attach great importance to the security of the pipeline system,
for they carry several types of energy resources such as petrol
and gas. Having a long pipeline system is not always pleasant,
as the country has to enforce security as well as diplomatic
measures. Russia carries out the best pipeline diplomacy. As the
successor of the Soviet Union, Russia owns the Soviet pipeline
system. It inherited around 46,000 km of crude oil pipelines,
15,000 km of petroleum product pipelines, and 152,000 km of
natural gas pipelines, almost all of which are still controlled
by the state. This system includes oil/gas pipelines that extend
between Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Central Europe. Most
Central Asian countries are not satisfied with the 'Russian-led
restoring measures' for their pipeline networks. Russia restores
pipelines in Central As