Armenian pundit labels country as “third world” Raises concerns over migrant influx

Armen Manvelyan, an expert on international security issues, has sparked discussions by categorizing Armenia as a "third world country" due to concerns over the increasing influx of migrants.

Speaking to Armenian media, Manvelyan highlighted the challenges posed by a significant number of migrants arriving in Armenia, particularly in light of the country's relatively small population.

"Letting a large number of migrants into Armenia, whether they pay for it or not, is problematic for a state like Armenia, first of all in terms of population," Manvelyan remarked, Caliber.Az reports.

He specifically mentioned the risks associated with the growing number of Indian migrants already present in Armenia, emphasizing the potential strains on resources and infrastructure.

The discussion arose following news of negotiations between UK and Armenia regarding the deportation of illegal migrants. Manvelyan expressed concerns that such deals could not only impact Armenia's population dynamics but also pose risks to countries within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) due to Armenia's visa-free regime with EAEU member states.

"In case of registration in Armenia and obtaining a passport, the way is opened for these migrants as well," Manvelyan explained, highlighting potential implications for Armenia and its regional relationships.

The security expert drew attention to what he described as British influence on Armenian policy, referencing a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the head of British intelligence.

"This issue should also be considered in this logic, because we are a third world country, outside people dictate what conditions we should accept and whom we should accept," Manvelyan emphasized.