Armenian authorities are using anti-Russian rhetoric for electoral purposes – Andrey Areshev

Speaking with Alpha News, political scientist and expert at the Strategic Culture Foundation Andrey Areshev commented on the statement by Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan that Russia is waging a hybrid war against Armenia, as well as the reaction of Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who stated that Moscow is ready to discuss Yerevan’s concerns regarding bilateral relations in any format.

“First of all, it should be noted that this is far from the first such, shall we say, controversial statement from Mr. Simonyan, particularly regarding Russia. One gets the impression that he specializes in these kinds of statements, which can hardly be taken seriously in terms of evidence. It is clear, in my opinion, that in the context of the unfolding election campaign, the Armenian authorities are noticeably nervous. Aware of the precariousness of their position and the ambiguous perception of their actions in society, they are seeking to divert attention to the so-called ‘external factor’—in this case, Russia and its alleged machinations. This is especially true given the Moldovan example, which some apparently consider a success. We know that there are fairly close contacts between representatives of the current Armenian and Moldovan governments. Both sides are actively seeking a ‘Russian connection,’ be it in the form of donations, support for the opposition, or individual figures. So, it seems to me, a certain exchange of experience is taking place here.

Regarding Russia’s position and Russian diplomacy, I believe the response was quite balanced. Moscow is unlikely to succumb to provocations and whip up hysteria, as that would be counterproductive. Giving anti-Russian forces within the Armenian leadership additional pretext to escalate the situation is not the scenario Russia will follow now,” Areshev said.