Russian state TV aired an hour-long falsehood-laden program attacking the Armenian prime minister.
Ani Avetisyan Oct 31, 2023
Pashinyan during his interview with The Wall Street Journal (Primeminister.am)
As Armenia seeks Western help in coping with the influx of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, its relations with Russia continue to deteriorate.
Last week Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the Wall Street Journal that he saw “no advantage” in the presence of Russian troops in Armenia. In the same interview, Pashinyan also ruled out any impending withdrawal from the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Despite his previous criticism of Moscow and the CSTO, Pashinyan has maintained a restrained approach when it comes to actual action against these two security allies.
Armenia currently hosts approximately 10,000 Russian troops, of whom around 5,000 are stationed at the 102nd Russian military base in the city of Gyumri, near Turkey. Other Russian forces operate at Zvartnots airport, Erebuni military base, and in the southern and eastern regions of Armenia.
Russian troops are stationed at various points along the border with Azerbaijan, and Russian border guards control Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Iran.
Two thousand Russian peacekeepers were stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh after the 2020 Second Karabakh War. Pashinyan said in October, after Azerbaijan took over the region and its entire Armenian population fled, that the peacekeepers would not be allowed in Armenia if they were to leave Karabakh.
Pashinyan was the subject of an extended hit piece on Russian state TV on 23 October that contained numerous easily disprovable falsehoods. The Armenian Foreign Ministry filed a note of protest with Russia and summoned Ambassador Sergei Koprikin over the anti-Armenian statements and insults against Prime Minister Pashinyan in the program.
Pashinyan has been a frequent target of Russian propaganda in recent months. In October, an unnamed top official cited by the TASS news agency claimed that Pashinyan was emulating the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, and attempting to turn Armenia into ‘another Ukraine’. Former President Dmitry Medvedev, who is also the deputy head of Russia’s national security council, criticized Pashinyan on social media during Azerbaijan’s September attack on Nagorno-Karabakh. He accused him of “flirting” with the West and sarcastically asked, “Guess what fate awaits him?”
Russian state-owned media and propagandists regularly agitate for a change of Armenia’s government. Pashinyan has repeatedly emphasized that such calls go against the principles of the countries’ alliance. He told The Wall Street Journal that “such an approach violates many rules, starting with non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and diplomatic correctness”.
The recent anti-Pashinyan broadcast on Russian TV has triggered calls for Russian channels to be banned in Armenia. Tigran Hakobyan, head of Armenia’s Television and Radio Commission, said that talk of cutting of Russian channels have been brewing for years but that “political considerations” have prevented such a move. In response to the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s decision, Moscow summoned the Armenian charge d’affaires to discuss what it called an “anti-Russian movement” in Armenia led by the Armenian authorities.
In a move that appears to be aimed at punishing Armenia, the Russian State Duma has decided to postpone consideration of a bill that would recognize Armenian driver’s licenses. Russia reportedly expected Armenia to reciprocate by giving the Russian language a status, just like Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan have. There have been no public discussions in Armenia on according Russian such a status, though both Russian and English are mandatory subjects in Armenian public schools.
In the interview with WSJ, Pashinayn said that Russia’s and the CSTO’s failure to uphold their security commitments to Armenia had led Yerevan to seek to “diversify [its] relations in the security sector.”
Indeed, India has already begun selling weapons to Armenia and more ammunition is expected to be dispatched soon. France, too, has agreed to sell Armenia defensive weapons, including in the realm of air defense.
Armenia is receiving extensive help from the West to deal with the crisis that followed the mass flow of Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh who fled Azerbaijan’s 9-month blockade and September military assault. A number of Western countries and the EU have already sent millions of dollars to address the needs of those displaced.
While turning its back on Moscow, Yerevan has appeared more eager to conclude peace talks with Azerbaijan through the mediation of the European Union, rejecting Moscow-brokered meetings and expressing a willingness to participate in EU-led ones. Baku, meanwhile, has shown the opposite preference, rejecting several high-level meetings initiated by the EU.
The war of words between Armenia and Russia has been going on for some time, with Armenian officials criticizing Russia’s inaction during escalations in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. And Armenia’s move to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court – which has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin – has further strained the two allies’ relations.
“Former President Dmitry Medvedev, who is also the deputy head of Russia’s national security council, criticized Pashinyan on social media during Azerbaijan’s September attack on Nagorno-Karabakh. He accused him of “flirting” with the West and sarcastically asked, “Guess what fate awaits him?”
Medvedev the tiny Nazi cocksucker is allowed to make whatever threats he wants, without fear of retribution.
Pashinyan could become an Armenian Saakashvili.
Putler succubus Zakharova has already threatened to bomb Tbilisi if there is another colour revolution.
Now would be a perfect time for America to remove Armenia and Georgia completely from the putinaZi orbit. Both countries have vast diaspora in America.
America has the power, but not the political leadership.
“America has the power, but not the political leadership.”
No, we have too many dopes in politics, especially in the top position.
I’m not even sure the US has the power. We are to busy worried about, woke shit and diversity, equity and inclusion…lest I not forget about climate change which is an existential threat as opposed to the 7mm people crossing the southern border or Russia recreating 1938. I’m starting to becoming hopeful that Nikki may be able to pull it off and get the country back on track.
I’m convinced that we have the power, Sir Cap. We just need the right politicians in the right places. That’s all. Nikki would be a good start!
No Haley. She’s just another swamp creature. It is unlikely in the extreme that she will ever be in high office again, fortunately.
Two people with two opinions, and we both can freely speak about it. I say she’d be a great president.
I’ll yield to your judgement but all I hear is how we are short this or short that because we spend more on pentagon administration then actual weapons and weapon development.
This is very true, Sir Cap. The capacity to do more regarding weapons and ammo exists. We just need to stick a pin into the bloated bureaucratic head to deflate it back down to the right size.
How are you coming to a figure of 7 mil people across the Southern US border Sir capW?
I heard that number mentioned at yesterdays congressional hearings
Ah I see, thanks for the update with source Sir CapW.
Was that per year, or over the course of several years?
Since 2020
Rgr tht comparing with other stats it may have to go to 2019 to get that number. But unsure if what I ran across was current for the year.
Could be right Bill. I don’t normally trust any numbers coming out of these congressional hearings but this one seemed to make sense if one believes 1.7-2.0mm people cross the border each year. But as I said I wouldn’t bet the farm on any of these stats.
Well I was just focused on illegal entry, I think the legal crossings are waaay higher.
In my simple mind if 80% of those admitted through asylum never show up for a hearing I think it’s a safe bet to count 80% of those entering through asylum are illegal
I think they’ve been refusing asylum seekers with a lower bench mark but I hear ya Sir CapW. I’d look into it more but a bunch of stuff has come up. Ty again Sir CapW.😎👍
Can’t understand how Armenia ever saw any advantages to have such sub-human filth in their country as the ruskies.
They’re not the first to be duped. After the Ukraine invasion, many people are having their eyes opened. Armenia has been something of a football since the Roman Empire collapsed and they have been desperate to find security in some fashion and Russia looked like a good one to deal with, at first. Now that Putin has betrayed them as well they are looking a return to football status and they are scared.
That might be as you say, but if you’ve been a “football” for so long, I think it would be very wise to look closely who your friends are. To choose russia was an obvious bad choice. A look at its history should’ve sufficed for Armenia to know this.