Armenia now spoiling relations with country that gives it security guarantees – Dmitry Suslov

Speaking with Alpha News, Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at Russia’s National Research University Higher School of Economics and Deputy Director of Research Programs at the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, commented on the Armenian authorities’ intention to join the EU and noted that simultaneous participation in two integration associations is incompatible.

“Armenia has declared its goal of joining the EU at the legislative level. This is, of course, Armenia’s sovereign choice; this is the path that some post-Soviet countries are taking, but this is, of course, incompatible with the allied relations between Armenia and Russia, especially in the current context of relations between Russia and the US and Russia and the EU. Armenia is making a decision to side with Russia’s enemy and adversary, with those countries and those associations that seek to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, with whom Russia is fighting a hybrid war.

In addition, speaking about the desire to join the EU, Armenia must automatically withdraw from the EAEU. Because simultaneous participation in two integration associations is incompatible. If Armenia speaks about the desire to join the EU, this means that it must quit the EAEU and stop enjoying all the benefits that are provided to Armenia through its participation in the organization,” Suslov said.

Relations between Russia and Armenia, according to the HSE professor, will continue to deteriorate.

“I believe the issue of the Russian base will be raised in the near future. It seems to me that the Armenian leadership wants to finally burn bridges with Russia after some kind of peace agreement is reached with Azerbaijan and relations with Turkey are normalized. If Armenia quits the EAEU, the status of Armenian citizens in Russia will change. I do not rule out that at some point the issue of a visa regime for Armenian citizens may be raised. I am surprised that Armenia is doing all this without having achieved a peaceful settlement with Azerbaijan.

We see that Azerbaijan is raising the issue of the so-called ‘Zangezur corridor’ and says that it will get it in any case. Facing such challenges and not receiving any security guarantees from the US or the EU, Armenia is spoiling relations with the country that currently provides Armenia with security guarantees, I mean Russia,” Suslov said.