Russia clearly sees origins of anti-Russian sentiments in Armenia — Andrey Areshev

Speaking with Alpha News, Russian political scientist and expert at the Strategic Culture Foundation Andrey Areshev commented on Armenian-Russian relations and emphasized that there are forces in Armenia connected to the government that are actively contributing to the deterioration of ties.

“In my opinion, problems in Russian-Armenian relations do exist. A certain duality is obvious—on the one hand, there are statements that everything is fine, and on the other hand, we understand that the overall information landscape is far from positive, and it is formed, among other things, by representatives of the Armenian government. And all these statements are far from accidental. I believe the Russian side is well aware of where these sentiments originate and understands the complexities of the current situation. Nevertheless, in the current conditions, efforts are being made to highlight positive aspects and explore untapped potential. I would like to note regional cooperation, for example, the Interregional Forum, which could serve as a catalyst for specific solutions,” the political scientist noted.

According to the expert, Moscow has a clear understanding of the signals coming from the Armenian government.

“This is obvious, and Moscow certainly understands it. We are talking about signals coming from the Armenian government—both explicit and implicit. Sometimes Russia is not mentioned directly, but statements about a ‘hybrid war’ speak for themselves. There are forces, including those connected to the government, that are contributing to the deteriorating of relations. Russia takes this into account. However, given the current realities, trade and economic ties remain the basis of dialogue. Other formats are also built around this, including the EAEU and the bilateral agenda. Time will tell how sustainable this approach is,” Areshev added.