"Armenia should no longer rely on anyone" Russian pundits on Caliber.Az

"What else do you want from us?" – This is roughly the essence of the speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the plenary session of the Valdai Forum, in the part where he spoke about relations with Armenia, in particular about the sobs of the "ancients" over Garabagh. The Russian leader took a thorough digression into the recent past and a detailed analysis clearly for a reason, but to put an end once and for all to the Armenian vaudeville under the conditional name "And Russia abandoned us ...".

Obviously, this was also an answer to all those in Yerevan who, after the recent events in Garabagh, were not too lazy to blame Moscow for “not protecting the Armenians.” Stubbornly ignoring the fact that the matter is the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, which the Armenian prime minister admitted several times consecutively. In general, all these cries, complaints and claims are probably fed up with Russia, especially since it is now tied hand and foot by the war with Ukraine.

Russian experts expressed their opinion to Caliber.Az about how current Russian-Armenian relations can be characterized in the light of Putin’s speech in Valdai and whether Moscow will listen to the persistent calls of Armenian politicians to help them.

As Daria Grevtsova, Deputy Director of the Russian Institute for Political Studies, noted, the Russian president clearly outlined Russia’s position at the Valdai Forum and, naturally, expressed disagreement with Charles Michel’s statement that Russia had betrayed Armenia.

“Vladimir Putin showed that he does not accept such a view of the situation and in his speech made it clear that Armenia itself has chosen its own path, and Russia, naturally, cannot interfere in this sovereign choice.

Of course, Armenia is still an ally of Russia; there are many people there who are in solidarity with our country, not to mention the huge Armenian diaspora in the Russian Federation, which is inextricably linked with Russian society. Therefore, we still have ties, although it is clear that despite this, Yerevan’s position as a whole will not change, because Prime Minister Pashinyan has already chosen a West-oriented path for his country. And he is now doing everything to push Moscow away from Yerevan and make the West an ally of Armenia. Apparently, he believes that the West has more opportunities to help the Armenians,” the Russian political scientist said.

Grevtsova is convinced that the West is not interested in Armenia as such, but given that Armenia is a member of alliance treaties with Moscow, it is extremely important for Western forces to tear it away from Moscow and turn it into a second Ukraine, weakening Russia's position in the Caucasus as much as possible.

“Recently, Western structures have been making a lot of efforts to set Armenia against Russia so that it blames Moscow for all its failures. This is their specific plan to show that Russia is not a friend to the Armenians, but an enemy and that it is now an ally of Azerbaijan and Türkiye. This means that the Armenian leadership has no choice but to cooperate with Western countries. In general, Western institutions have been operating in Armenia for a long time and are very active, “soft Western power” is at work, which influences the minds of Armenian citizens. The same well-organized anti-Russian rallies and demonstrations in Yerevan are a fact that they are being prepared by representatives of Western intelligence services. Therefore, Armenia will no longer change its set course for cooperation with the West, and Moscow accepts this fact as a given and takes appropriate measures,” Grevtsova concluded.

According to Russian political scientist Renat Savin, Putin's speech seemed to draw a certain line, dispel myths about Russia's responsibility for Garabagh and close the mouths of Armenian politicians who have recently allowed themselves too much.

“Until now, Russia has been quite lenient towards Armenia’s provocative policy, its open attempts to humiliate and offend Russians, and provoke them to react. In my opinion, in this sense, Moscow could have acted more harshly. However, we can say that the Russian Federation has already punished Armenia by not interfering in Baku’s actions in Garabagh. As they say, if you don’t like it, goodbye. And the understanding of this fact infuriates the Armenian revanchists, the entire opposition for which “miatsum” and “status” were the main point of existence, its feeding trough for many years.

It seems to me that Putin very clearly explained to all Armenians that for many years Moscow has been inviting Yerevan to come to its senses and come to an agreement with Baku on the return of territories, noting from time to time that Azerbaijan is growing stronger day by day, while Armenia is only squandering its existing potential. But Yerevan, as Putin made clear, was deaf and adamant. So, the Russian leader very subtly reminded the entire Armenian political community militant on the Internet of a simple truth - “the law is not written for fools,” and therefore Armenians should not rely on anyone now. Such a message, of course, has its addressee. I think he will at least noticeably calm the emotional statements of the Armenian revanchists, answering all their questions and cries in absentia,” Savin pointed out.