It is difficult to imagine that Armenian Church and Christian heritage could be removed from Armenian self-consciousness – Alexey Muravyov

Armenian-Russian relations are in deep crisis; they are undergoing transformation, and Russia’s role in the South Caucasus is changing, Russian expert, head of the Department of Central Asia and the Caucasus at Moscow State University, Professor Alexey Muravyov, said in an interview with Alpha News.

“Our relations are undergoing transformation. Previously, Russia was seen as a provider of security, a guarantor not only for Armenia but for the entire South Caucasus. Now, Russia’s role is changing. In which direction it is changing is still difficult to say. Perhaps there will be some new alliances; we would like to avoid direct confrontations, although that scenario has not been completely removed from the table. I believe Russia’s role is increasingly shifting toward the humanitarian and intellectual-cultural sphere,” he said.

Speaking about the purpose of his visit to Armenia, Muravyev emphasized that he came to participate in several round tables and discussions. He noted that the topic of his lectures would be the formation of Armenian state and religious self-consciousness in the era of Mesrop Mashtots, as well as the foundations on which Armenian national and state identity was built.

“We came to Armenia to participate in several round tables and discussions. During the visit, I will give two lectures as part of our academic cooperation with Yerevan State University and Brusov University. The lectures will be on various aspects, primarily religious,” he said.

When asked about the recent situation around the Armenian Apostolic Church and the attacks by the authorities on the Church, the expert said that he is following these developments very closely, recalling his good relations with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

“This causes a certain concern, because of course it is difficult to imagine that the Armenian Apostolic Church and Christian heritage could somehow be erased, removed from Armenian self-consciousness, from Armenian identity. In my opinion, this is an absolutely hopeless and meaningless idea. There were, of course, certain examples when church leaders in the Ottoman Empire were persecuted, arrested, forced to make unpopular decisions, and so on. Such stories existed, but they came from the Turkish authorities, not Armenian ones,” he said, adding that even the Soviet authorities under Brezhnev did not go that far.