168 Hours: Russia may hit Armenia in most vulnerable spot

“168 Hours” paper discusses the gas price increase as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s recent statement regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and comes to the conclusion that both have political reasons: Armenia’s refusal to join the Customs Union.

In this context the paper examines the U.S. embassy-organized forum on the future of Armenia’s energy sector. The paper believes that speeches at the forum had a hidden message to the effect that if Armenia manages to display its will in terms of refusal to join the Customs Union, the West will provide financial compensation.

“The Russian authorities sense the danger coming from Armenia and play their cards almost openly, using all tools of pressure… the Russians give Armenia to understand that in case of Armenia’s further resistance, they may deal a “strategic blow” to the most vulnerable spot – the Karabakh conflict settlement process”.

“168 Hours” also underlines the opposition’s silence and explains it by the factor of having their say at the decisive moment and defend Russia’s interests, which is Russians’reserve tool, according to the newspaper.