“Russia to deal with Armenians too, it is not the first time for them to pack their bags” Caliber.Az VS Tarasov

Caliber.Az sat for an interview with the editor-in-chief of the Eastern Department of the Russian REGNUM News Agency, Russian political analyst, Stanislav Tarasov.

 - Mr Tarasov, how do you assess the latest developments in Tajikistan? Who or what stands behind them? 

- I think that the Americans and the British are primarily interested in destabilizing the situation in Tajikistan. These external forces are destabilizing the situation in Afghanistan, on the one hand, and in Tajikistan, on the other hand.

- You mean Moscow will not interfere in this situation?

- Moscow will not do anything. The 201st Russian division is in Tajikistan, and these are sufficiently combat-ready forces to respond in case of necessity.

- Do you rule out Kazakhstan’s scenario in Tajikistan?

  - Kazakhstan’s scenario is excluded, at least at this stage.

- You keep something from translating into worlds, don’t you?

- One never knows what could happen. The issue concerns Central Asia. Everything can happen there. Do you understand?

- Do you hint that, if necessary, the Collective security Treaty Organisation’s (CSTO) troops will be deployed?

- In any case, it is possible to hope for the CSTO’s assistance.

- Do you think that it is efficient for the Americans to open another front in the post-Soviet area?

- It is quite possible. Their main goal is to weaken Russia.

- Let's discuss the situation in the South Caucasus region. Why has the border demarcation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia stalled?

- I think one of the sides is bluffing, it is unclear which one - Baku or Yerevan. Baku boosts the process because it understands that after the end of the Ukrainian crisis (apparently, Moscow will gain a victory over Ukraine), Russia's policy in the post-Soviet area will be more decisive. There will not be low-hanging fruits as before.

- The demarcation process is being delayed by Armenia, but already at the behest of Russia, thus blocking the Brussels agreements. Is this Moscow’s another caprice?

- What borders are you talking about? These are the borders of the former Soviet Empire. Why does Pashinyan [Armenian prime minister] go to Brussels to negotiate on the demarcation issue? These are our historical territories. Do you think that Brussels will prepare a map and hand it to you? You will get nothing.

Pashinyan has already lost everything. He lost the Karabakh war when he reached an agreement with Azerbaijan, so it is unclear who is his curator now - Brussels or Moscow. He says one thing to Putin in the Kremlin and then he rushes to Europe and signs another document there. The Armenian prime minister is derailing the process this way to see Russia’s reactions. There is only one "but". Moscow is too busy now. First, we should finish dealing with Ukraine, then we will deal with the Transcaucasia.

- What does it mean "deal with Transcaucasia"?

- Do you know that the memory of Russian General Ivan Paskevich has been recently revered in Yerevan, wreaths have been laid at his monument? So, I have a question. Why did the Armenians suddenly remember the Russian general who signed the Treaty of Turkmenchay, annexed Transcaucasia to Russia, captured Yerevan and added the prefix Erivan? The reason is that the Russians tell the Armenians that “this is our territory, dear Armenians, we conquered it. Let's see what you will do after we finish all with Ukraine.”

- Russia allowed Armenia to glorify the Nazi ideology. There is a monument to Garegin Nzhdeh in Yerevan. Maybe you will remind us about it?

- Nzhdeh is an outgoing geopolitical actor. Moscow shows its importance, that’s why I reminded you about the laying of wreaths at the monument to Paskevich. Russia shows its dominance in the Caucasus. This region was conquered through servicemen’s blood, and then we gave these lands to the national republics. We helped them, created academies of sciences there, and then put them on our neck.

- Will Moscow really not forgive Armenians for anti-Russian demarches and burning Putin's portraits?

- Russia will force Armenia to take into account its interests. We have problems with the West now. But Russia is moving in the eastern direction, namely, to the southeast in the direction of Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Major developments will occur in these countries after the Ukrainian crisis.

- Do you mean Moscow's plan to revive the USSR-2.0 project?

- Surely not. Russia is not going to carry national republics on its shoulders again. We have already experienced this, but in response, they spat in our face. Nobody expressed gratitude. So, we don't need a new Soviet Union. We need neutral, free states that could be developing themselves. Do the Americans provide you with funds? Let them continue doing it. Does Brussels give all of you money? Let it continue giving money. InshaAllah, live on your own and do not touch us. You can arrive in our country as guests or tourists.

- I wonder how will Russia strengthen its empire?

- These are just conversations. We have as many politicians as political analysts. Tarasov thinks about one thing, while someone else expresses a completely different opinion. It is not worth focusing on their opinions, as well as on mine. I do not express the viewpoint of the state. You should not focus on the opinions of the Russian members of parliament (MPs). It is necessary to focus on the Kremlin, Putin, and the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In general, we have already fed up with eating kebab [barbecue] in Transcaucasia, and we do not want to gather everyone, as you said, under a single umbrella again. It is important for us that none of the former countries poses a danger to Russia. We don't need Armenia as a part of Russia. Russia needs an independent Armenia. Let others provide Armenia with funds. There is such a principle - either earn money yourself or let Paris or London finance you. We will no longer do this.

- It is clear. You don’t want to finance anyone, but you want to control everyone.

- It is required only in the interests of our national security to prevent the supplies of missiles or something like that to the former republics.

- Do you think that Moldova or impoverished Armenia can pose a threat to Russia's national security?

- Of course, Moldova, like Ukraine, is a potential NATO member. Therefore, we were forced to go on the offensive in Ukraine. Georgia considers the West as its partner. Azerbaijan’s partner is Turkiye. It is good that we have managed to agree with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once. The situation is unclear with Armenia, it is either with Moscow or with Brussels, it is unclear whom it supports. Let's clarify the situation. It's not the first time for Armenians to pack their bags. It is necessary to transport 40 million Ukrainians somewhere. So, we will send them to Siberia and the Caucasus.