For a long time Russia s position as a key global energy player has enhanced Moscow s international economic and political influence whilst causing concern amongst other states fearful of becoming too dependent on Russia as an energy supplier. The Global Financial Crisis shook this established image of Russia as an indispensable energy superpower, immune to negative external influences and revealed the full extent of Russia s dependence on oil and gas for economic and political influence. This led to calls from within the country for a new approach where energy resources were no longer...