Pashinyan's pivot: Seeking closer ties with Putin amid turbulent global politics

Reports in Armenian media suggest that amidst unfolding geopolitical shifts, including potential changes in US and French leadership and possible setbacks in Ukraine, former Russophobe Nikol Pashinyan appears to be gravitating back towards Vladimir Putin.

"Perhaps, Pashinyan calculated that after victory on the Ukrainian front, Russia will 'return' to the region and settle local problems. And since the leaders of the superpowers defending him are saying goodbye to power, now is the time to turn away from the West towards Russia," an article published in a Yerevan-based newspaper claims, as per Caliber.Az.

"Pashinyan may have calculated that with Russia gaining ground after potential Ukrainian developments, now is the time to pivot away from the West and towards Russia. This shift was evident when Pashinyan recently dismissed the possibility of an EU membership referendum and hastily dispatched Armenia's Ambassador to Russia, Vagharshak Harutyunyan, despite the incident in Belgorod where a residential building was hit by Ukrainian rockets back in May," the article notes.

"Sources within 'Civil Contract' cynically predict more instances of Armenian officials 'siding with Russia,'" the newspaper concludes.