Afət Ziyadqızı
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s planned visit to Moscow could determine the country’s future.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that political analyst Ervand Bozoyan, a supporter of the Mother Armenia party, made the remarks.
According to the analyst, Armenia-Russia relations have grown increasingly tense in recent months. He said the arrests of politicians who support normalizing ties with Russia had a geopolitical dimension.
Bozoyan believes Pashinyan intends to use the detained politicians during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Pashinyan wants to use them because he has no other card in his hand. I think the Russian side will not join this game, and Pashinyan faces failure,” the analyst said.
Bozoyan added that whether the arrests of the politicians would continue would depend on the outcome of the talks in Moscow.
The analyst said Yerevan understands how painful a breakdown in relations with Moscow could be for society. For this reason, he said, the process is being pursued gradually.
According to him, Moscow has understood Yerevan’s plan and prevented it from being implemented.
“Everyone must understand that if Armenia-Russia relations collapse, Türkiye will take Russia’s place,” Bozoyan stressed.
Relations between the two countries have become more complicated following the Armenian parliament’s adoption of a law to launch the process of joining the European Union, statements about revoking the concession of the South Caucasus Railway, and other steps by Yerevan.
A program recently adopted by the Armenian government did not describe Russia as a strategic ally or partner for the first time.
During a meeting in Bishkek on Sept. 1, Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan also discussed the need to hold a referendum in Armenia to clarify the issue of the country’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union or its accession to the European Union.
Yerevan, however, is not rushing to hold a vote, citing the absence of an alternative at present. Armenia has reportedly not yet submitted an application to join the European Union.
Armenia and Russia have traditionally maintained close political, economic and security ties, while Armenia’s recent outreach to European institutions has added uncertainty to the direction of Yerevan’s foreign policy.
