Russian-Armenian relations are heading toward a rupture: Konstantin Zatulin

Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, commented to Alpha News on the trajectory of Russian-Armenian relations during the seventh session of the “Lazarev Club,” held on the theme “Armenia and Russia in a changing world: civilizational choice and future scenarios.”

“Russian-Armenian relations are heading toward a rupture, and you don’t need to be a genius to see it, you simply need to look at the evolution of Armenia’s alliances, at its desire to lean at this moment on illusory support from the West, while abandoning all alliance with Russia, in the military sphere, in the CSTO, for example, and across other economic ties. Taking the railway concession away from Russia, walking away from the reconstruction and renovation of the Armenian nuclear power plant in favor of mythical small modular reactors, which were supposedly agreed upon with Vice President Vance, even though they don’t actually exist yet. All of this proves that the Pashinyan government is not a pragmatic government, it is a government ideologically bent on breaking with its existing space and moving into an entirely different orbit. You can fantasize all you like, but look at the map: there is no America nearby, there is no France, which is preparing for President Macron’s visit to Armenia, actually anywhere close. And there is no desire on their part, neither in the First World War nor now, to take on the defense and protection of Armenia,” Zatulin said.

In the deputy’s view, Armenia’s current leadership is reducing its agreements with Russia to nothing.

“Today there are agreements between Russia and Armenia, and Armenia’s current leadership is in fact reducing them to nothing. They openly declare, even at meetings with the Russian president, that yes, for now we are enjoying our ties, but we are moving on. And when the time comes, we will walk away from them, that is what he is saying. Can you seriously build a relationship with such a government, consider it an ally, especially at a moment when you are fighting a war? When they look you in the eye and openly tell you that you are just temporary, and that once they have the chance to keep doing what they’ve been doing, they will dump you? Well then, let’s not give them that chance,” Zatulin concluded.