Russian MFA accuses West of destabilising South Caucasus

The Russian Foreign Ministry has claimed that the West is pushing a destructive agenda in the South Caucasus, aiming to fragment the region and dismantle its historical ties with Moscow. 

In a statement reported by Caliber.Az, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the US State Department's efforts to "tear" Armenia away from Russia. This follows remarks by James O'Brien, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, acknowledging Washington's attempts to create conditions for a rupture between Yerevan and Moscow. O'Brien noted that a significant part of Armenia's population wants to distance itself from Russia, and the US is facilitating this desire.

Zakharova responded, "Undoubtedly, such 'candid' confessions by high-ranking US officials responsible for foreign policy have drawn our attention. However, they did not cause surprise, as O'Brien did not say anything new."

She emphasized that O'Brien's remarks confirmed Russia's long-standing warnings to its partners, including Armenia. "The West is promoting a destructive agenda in the South Caucasus, with the primary goal of fragmenting the region by destroying Russia's historical ties with its traditional allies and neighbors," Zakharova stated.

Zakharova dismissed US claims that Armenia wants to turn away from Russia as groundless, expressing confidence that the centuries-old ties between the two countries will withstand Western pressures. "Throughout history, we have repeatedly lent a shoulder to the brotherly Armenian people, and we intend to do so in the future," she affirmed.

Furthermore, Zakharova accused the US of seeking to subjugate state governance systems, control resources, and exploit transit potential in the South Caucasus under the guise of well-intentioned pretexts. "They aim to subdue the system of state administration, concentrate control over the resource base, and use the transit potential," she concluded.