Kommersant: Nikol Pashinyan gets status of inconvenient partner for Russia

Russian Kommersant published an analysis in its January 9 issue on how Russia will build its relations with neighbor states in 2019.

Author of the article Vladimir Solovyev guarantees new scandals in 2019 in relations with Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Referring to Armenia, the author wrote that the “Velvet Revolution” organized and implemented by Nikol Pashinyan made the whole world take maps and search for Armenia and understand what was going on there.

The change of power without bloodshed impressed the West with the American Times granting Pashinyan “Crusader of Democracy” title and British The Economist naming Armenia the country of the year, again for breakthrough in democracy.

“For Russia too Nikol Pashinyan has become one of the chief political figures in 2018 and of course democracy has nothing to do here. Russian authorities thoroughly followed the Armenian revolution and its leader and for almost the first time in the contemporary history Moscow’s official response, which has almost always negatively been perceived by any protestant movements, was neutral if not friendly,” the author writes, reminding the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry which said that Russia is ready to continue bilateral beneficial Armenian-Russian cooperation and strengthening and developing allied cooperation.

The author though claims that after Pashinyan reached the chair of the Prime Minister unpleasant surprises started for Moscow with the new authorities initiating investigation of March 1, 2008 developments in Yerevan. The author says as a result charges have been filed against Vladimir Putin’s close friend Robert Kocharyan and CSTO secretary general Yuri Khachaturov.

“The investigation resulted in serious confrontation with Russia. Moscow perceived the persecution against CSTO secretary general as an aimed blow to the image of the organization,” the author wrote, stressing that Pashinyan also demanded appointment of Armenian representative in the post which enhanced the conflict involving new member states of the organization.

“Belarus has stated about its right to take the post and received the support of all the member states but Armenia.  Pashinyan who did not want to concede stated that “Taking into consideration our security issue we must understand whether this organization should be perceived seriously or not”,” the author wrote.

Solovyev also stressed that the issue was not solved even during December 27 meeting between the president of Russia and Pashinyan. “Irrespective of how the issue of the CSTO secretary general ends Mr Pashinyan has already received status of inconvenient partner for Russia from who everything should be expected.”