The term "Former Soviet Republics" refers to the 15 independent countries that emerged after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. These countries include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Each of these nations has its own unique culture, language, and history. After gaining independence, the former Soviet republics faced various challenges, including political instability, economic transition, and national identity formation. Some countries, like Estonia and Lithuania, have integrated into European Union structures, while others, such as Belarus and Russia, maintain closer ties to their Soviet past.