Pundit: Russia has neither desire nor means to intervene in Armenia

Fedor Lukyanov, Chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy of Russia, has stated that Russia neither has the capacity nor the inclination to interfere in Armenia’s internal affairs.

In an interview with Caliber.Az, Lukyanov highlighted that Armenia, like Georgia, has its own dynamics, which are influenced by recent events, including two phases of military conflict, the return of Karabakh to Azerbaijan, and other geopolitical shifts.

Lukyanov acknowledged that Russia has a direct connection to Armenia, but emphasized that the country’s internal developments are rooted in its recent history, rather than external interference. He pointed to changes in Armenia’s foreign policy, particularly the shift towards European alignment, which followed the fallout from Armenia's defeat in the war and the subsequent retention of power by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who won the elections despite the loss.

“Having lost the war, the Pashinyan managed to maintain power by winning elections. This is unusual, and I do not have reasons to believe this does not reflect the will of the people,” Lukyanov said. He further suggested that the Armenian people have accepted Pashinyan as the optimal leader, with opposition groups and protesters remaining sidelined.

Lukyanov further remarked that Russia, in its current state, has neither the opportunity nor the desire to intervene. “If there were such a desire, the result would not have been favourable,” he noted.

Regarding Pashinyan's political approach, Lukyanov expressed interest in his reflections on Armenian statehood. “His views are quite unusual for a political leader; typically, intellectuals discuss these matters,” Lukyanov said.

Pashinyan’s concept of Armenia’s future, where the nation must accept its present reality and stop longing for a lost past, is a thought-provoking perspective. However, Lukyanov questioned whether Pashinyan’s desire to reshape the nation’s identity was genuine or a political manoeuvre. “If it is a game, it is a strange one,” he added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev