Armenia should learn from Azerbaijan's diplomacy Belated insight or manipulation by a Russian "analyst"?
Sergei Karnaukhov, Armenia's bosom friend, who sang along with notorious Vladimir Solovyov, suddenly "saw the light" and attacked Yerevan, accusing it of betrayal and political myopia. Let us recall that during the 44-day war, Karnaukhov, like Russian military propagandists Pegov, Kitten, Poddubny, and other brothers, invented fairy tales about Armenia's imaginary victories and Azerbaijan's army failures. Even after Armenia's surrender, Karnaukhov invariably wept over the "loss" of Karabakh.
However, something apparently clicked in the "analyst's" inflamed brain, and the night before he published a post on his Telegram channel about Armenians' true attitude toward Russia, accusing Armenia of a lack of subjectivity and advising them to vote for a pro-Russian government. Let's not guess about the reasons for such a revision of the views of the Russian propagandist - whether Karnaukhov really saw the light, whether Solovyov's recent apologies to Azerbaijan made an indelible impression on him, or whether they forgot to transfer money to his account in Yerevan, but he doused his yesterday's [August 16] friends with a tub of cold water.
"Recently, even the patriotic Armenian public has a lot of complaints about the forced and tactical alliance of Russia with Türkiye," Karnaukhov wrote, in particular. - These claims concern not only the Russian leadership but also some public figures, including me. I think it's time to clarify some points.
Firstly, Russia is forced to interact with Türkiye (the Middle East, Transcaucasus, etc.). Politics is not the art of the beautiful, politics is the art of the possible. And Russia is obliged to think first about its own interests, and only then about those who ask to leave them alone (isn't that what the Armenian nationalists, fans of the "good fascist" Nzhdeh say?).
Secondly, the reason why Moscow in the Caucasus should interact more with Ankara lies in Armenia itself. Or rather, in the absence of Yerevan's own political subjectivity. Answer the questions: who did not recognise Karabakh during the war? Who has not recognised Karabakh so far? Why did the Armenian Armed Forces never hit the strategic objects of Baku, sending volunteers to certain death? There are many such questions. The nationalists who elected Pashinyan will say that Putin is to blame for everything. However, the correct answer is: The Armenian elites decided so!
At the same time, such an answer does not remove responsibility from the Armenian people - after all, it was the citizens of Armenia who voted for Pashinyan in the early parliamentary elections. You will say that people were frustrated and demoralised, but this does not relieve you of responsibility! In the end, overcoming fear and adversity, the people become a nation.
Thirdly, it is quite clear to me why in Armenia they want to find the culprit, but why don't they want to look in the mirror?! I repeat, after all, the Armenian citizens voted for Pashinyan, why there are many agents of influence of foreign special services working in the Armenian government? Have you forgotten who Ruben Rubinyan is, Armenia's special representative for "reconciliation with Türkiye"? He is a graduate of Sabanci University, which trains the best Turkish soft power cadres. Where are the protests and rallies of Armenian citizens?
This has all been done for years. President Serzh Sargsyan also made the most serious mistakes - he was afraid to recognize Karabakh in 2016, was inconsistent with Ankara, missed the opportunity to fully include Armenia in the North-South transit corridor, and much more.
I understand that everywhere you can blame everything on the elites, but you have to be honest with yourself - not everything is decided by politicians. We decide a lot ourselves. Now it's time to look critically at your own policy."
Naturally, his arguments provoked heated discussions in the Armenian Telegram channels. Pro-Western websites immediately reacted to his statements and attacked Karnaukhov. So the Armenian channel "Armenian Global Community" immediately accused the Russian propagandist of "eating caviar".
Another nonsense from Karnaukhov, the "friend of Armenians". Unfortunately, I have to read this nonsense to tell you about it. He also remembered the "fascist Nzhdeh", who haunts only avid caviar eaters and found at least three reasons why the Russian-Turkish friendship is quite normal.
And the first is that Russia is forced to interact with Türkiye. Forced! Mr Karnaukhov, was Russia also forced to sell billions of dollars worth of weapons to Azerbaijan? The enemy of his ally. If Armenia sells weapons to Ukraine now and calls it "business", how will you take it? Or call friendship with Ukraine "forced" for some reason. Isn't it funny for you to publish these low-grade manuals yourself?
And by the way, you would also do well to look in the mirror. And then not to blame the Canadian embassy, Soros and someone else. You are doing a great job for them, they are definitely grateful to you!".
Sergei Karnaukhov's reaction was not long in coming. And it was sharp and quite tough: "And now look at how the audience is thrown and pitted. So far, everything is going to the primitive predictably. Naturally, everyone fell for the "bookmark" about Nzhdeh. Well, as a "reflection", they promote the topic "wasn't it Russia that sold weapons to Azerbaijan". Is Baku an enemy of Russia? So far, unlike Pashinyan, Aliyev has never allowed himself any attacks against our country, he behaves carefully and reliably. And here modern Armenia should take Azerbaijan's diplomacy in relations with Russia as an example. You don't like what I'm saying? Well, these are realities. Change your political regime! Become "pro-Russian", and stop feeding yourself with stories that Russia controls everything in Armenia, that Putin is in charge of everything and personally "surrenders" Armenia to the Turks. I understand it's so convenient, but what's the point of living "behind the closet".
At the same time, Karnaukhov, accused of "caviar-eating" by the Armenians, did not forget to add that "he was and will be on the side of the Armenians against the current political grouping".