Back in 1980s, Turkish intelligence services intended to resolve issues related to Armenian people – Semyon Bagdasarov

Speaking with Alpha News, Semyon Bagdasarov, Director of the Center for Middle East and Central Asian Studies, commented on the Armenian authorities’ attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church, Pashinyan’s visit to St. Petersburg amid his anti-Russian statements, President Aliyev’s absence, the strong remarks made by Ali Akbar Velayati—Advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran—during his meeting with the Armenian Ambassador regarding the “Trump Route,” and whether the US-Russia talks on Ukraine in Miami could affect the South Caucasus region.

“Well, first of all, I’d like to say that these actions are not Mr. Pashinyan’s invention. Mr. Pashinyan is carrying out the will of the Turkish secret services. Back in the 1980s, while covering Turkey, I came across documents indicating that the Turkish secret services planned to resolve several issues related to the Armenian people by completely exterminating them. The first step was the denial of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. They could not operate in the Armenian SSR at the time for a number of reasons, but they actively tried to work for certain people in the Diaspora, periodically launching various provocations in the media. The second step was the denial of the historical memory of the Armenian people, which concerns historical Armenia. Let me remind you that this is 360,000 square kilometers. And even if there is ever an independent Armenia, these 29,000 square kilometers constitute the entire historical Armenia. Third, the destruction of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which has always played a significant role in the history of the Armenian people, especially after the loss of statehood, and served as a link between the various Armenian Diasporas scattered across dozens of countries. Therefore, Pashinyan and his team are doing this at the behest of the Turkish intelligence services, which, mind you, became especially active after the infamous visit to Ankara and meeting with Erdogan. In other words, according to the Turks and those behind them—the British, and the Americans too—the time has come. Frankly, they are the main ones operators of this entire process. Historically, Turkey has always played the role of the West’s vanguard in actions against Russia and the Armenian people,” Bagdasarov said.

He also commented on Pashinyan’s visit to St. Petersburg for a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council following his anti-Russian statements.

“I’m surprised myself by the reaction of my Russian comrades when they meet with him. You know, you can be ignorant of Armenia, you can be ignorant of the South Caucasus, but failing to see what’s happening—that’s the worst thing ever. Notice: Pashinyan returns from Ankara, and immediately, in the Armenian media, and elsewhere, an essentially official narrative emerges, claiming that Russia is allegedly plotting a coup in Armenia. They even name the companies allegedly financing it, including Russian Railways, Gazprom, publish a list of Russian agents, and so on. In other words, serious anti-Russian propaganda is being waged, aimed against Russia’s interests. Anyone who advocates for Armenian identity, for Armenian history, is being branded a KGB agent. It’s being announced that the issue of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire was raised by the State Security Committee of the Soviet Union. Let me remind you that the concept of ‘genocide’ was actually coined by Raphael Lemkin, a well-known figure, an ethnic Jew, and an American citizen. I somehow doubt he had any connection to the KGB. Let me also remind you that the first country to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire was a small Latin American country,” he said.