INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF RUSSIAN SOFT POWER IN CENTRAL ASIA: LEGAL MECHANISMS AND INTEGRATION PROCESSES

Over thepast decade, the phenomenon of "soft power" has gained particular significance in shaping international relations. This study analyzes the mechanisms of Russian cultural influence implementation in Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan, andTurkmenistan) through their legislative consolidation in national legal systems. The relevance of this work is determined by the growing importance of intangible factors inmodern diplomacy and the need to evaluate the effectiveness of cultural influence tools in the region. The research, based on an interdisciplinary approach combining comparative legal, institutional, and statistical methods, focuses on four key aspects: the legislative status of the Russian language, implementation of educational standards, media presence, and the impact of EAEU integration processes. The results demonstratea correlation between the effectiveness of cultural influence and the degree of its legal consolidation, with mechanisms embedded in the socio-economic structure of society proving most sustainable. It was revealed that EAEU member states show increased receptivity to Russian cultural influence due to their developed system of integration ties. The paper examines in detail the legal framework regulating various aspects of Russian presence in the region, including bilateral and multilateral agreements within the CIS and EAEU frameworks. The obtained results deepen the understanding of cultural influence mechanisms in the context of a changing international system and can be applied in developing foreign policy strategies by both Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation. The study makes a significant contribution to developing theoretical approaches to studying "soft power" and offers practical recommendations forimproving cultural diplomacy mechanisms in the region.