Armenian authorities should think about security of their country and people, not scheming — Semyon Bagdasarov

Speaking with Alpha News, Semyon Bagdasarov, Director of Russia’s Middle East and Central Asia Information Center, commented on the future that awaits Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad and how the situation there will influence the South Caucasus region.

“The Assad regime has rotted. Instead of expanding their base of support and carrying out serious reforms, for example, including more different ethnic and religious groups in power, sharing power with a Sunni prime minister, and giving part of the powers of the president, they did nothing. They believed that they had won and continued to run wild. The main beneficiary of everything is, of course, Turkey. During this time, Turks have created capable formations and united 24 groups of ‘progressive jihadists,’ as they are now called in the West. It was important for Turkey, the United States, and other countries that were also actively involved in this to push Russia and Iran out of there. This is what actually happened and will continue to happen, no matter how hard we try to come to an agreement with someone,” Bagdasarov said.

Commenting on the Russian military bases in Syria, the expert noted that bases can only be located on the territory of a friendly country.

“Keeping bases there now would be to the detriment of national security. Having bases in Syria now that will be controlled by these so-called ‘progressive jihadists’ who are controlled by Turkey and the United States is dangerous. Because tomorrow, the location of these bases may be used for blackmail to pressure Russia. It will be safer to move these bases to Libya. Bases can only be located on the territory of a friendly country with the government over which we have some influence,” Bagdasarov said.

According to the expert, the South Caucasus is becoming more and more under the influence of Turkey after the events in Syria.

“Turkey now needs the so-called ‘Zangezur corridor.’. Iranians will now be less concerned about the South Caucasus because Iran has a deep economic crisis. The energy crisis there has reached some phenomenal proportions. Next year will be very difficult for Iran. If Trump does everything as planned, Iran’s oil revenues will be reduced 5-6 times. When Trump comes to power, one of his main tasks will be not Russia, but Iran. They will need to put pressure on Iran. And it will be necessary to come to an agreement with Russia on the Ukrainian issue,” Bagdasarov said.

Speaking about the Armenian-Russian relations, the expert said that Pashinyan behaves like an “ill-mannered, extremely boorish person.”

“Pashinyan is cunning. He comes to Russia, bows, and then a US adviser arrives at the Armenian Defense Ministry. Pashinyan behaves like an ill-mannered, extremely boorish person. He does not allow Russian citizens of Armenian origin to enter Armenia, but this is not even a question for him. He simply takes advantage of the toothlessness of our people who are engaged in foreign policy areas, including Armenia. This toothless policy will cost Russia a lot. Now, amid the Syrian euphoria, Erdogan and his friends may be thinking about the so-called ‘Zangezur corridor.’ The Armenian authorities need to think about the safety of the population and about the security of their country, but instead they are engaged in scheming.

Until Armenia seriously thinks about its own national security, creates a capable army based on the experience of the Middle East wars, and attracts specialists, no one will help it,” Bagdasarov concluded.