Pashinyan trying to smooth over rough edges ahead of Moscow visit: Sergey Stankevich

Sergey Stankevich, a political scientist, has commented to Alpha News on a possible change in the Armenian leadership’s rhetoric toward Russia.

According to the expert, Nikol Pashinyan’s team may have signaled to the media and political circles to temporarily tone down anti-Russian rhetoric so that the prime minister can make his first official visit to Moscow in a more favorable atmosphere.

“Pashinyan and his entourage have sent a certain signal both to the media and to political circles to hold back on anti-Russian statements, that is, to rein in their tongues for a while, so that Pashinyan can make his first official visit to Moscow as head of government in a more favorable atmosphere,” Stankevich said.

In the political scientist’s opinion, Pashinyan’s own statements also point to the Armenian prime minister’s desire to reduce tension ahead of the upcoming talks with the Russian leadership.

“It is evident from Pashinyan’s own statements that he is now trying to smooth over rough edges as he prepares for a direct and serious conversation on which a great deal depends in Moscow. So I have the opposite impression regarding some outright Russophobic frenzy in Armenia. I do not see it at the moment,” Stankevich concluded.