EU’s main goal is to draw Caucasian countries out of Russia’s sphere of influence – Alexander Rahr

Speaking with Alpha News, German political scientist Alexander Rahr commented on Europe’s de facto support for the Armenian authorities’ repressions against the opposition and the Armenian Church.

“The thing is that the European Union is very afraid that Georgia’s events will be repeated in Armenia. We are referring to how the Georgian leadership said ‘goodbye’ to the EU, slammed the doors and declared that it no longer wishes to remain a ‘student of democracy’ but intends to pursue its own course, including economic rapprochement with Russia. Having lost Georgia, the EU captured Armenia. And now Ms. Kallas directly states that relations between Armenia and the European Union have never been better. But, at the same time, there are quite strong forces there that do not want Armenia to completely fall under the EU, and therefore there are different tendencies, different disputes and even conflicts in society. Understanding that its position in Armenia is still quite fragile, the EU, in order not to lose Armenia, will verbally and maybe even financially help it and pull it in its direction. The main goal and the main strategy of all this is to draw the Caucasian countries out of Russia’s sphere of influence,” Rahr said.

According to the political scientist, defense cooperation with the EU will not lead to anything good.

“The European Union is now offering Armenia special cooperation in defense matters, and from my point of view, this is simply scary, because this is how the Ukrainian conflict began in 2014, when the EU offered Ukraine military cooperation within the framework of the association. This leads to the intensification, to the escalation of all these geopolitical conflicts, so I do not see anything good in this, and, unfortunately, the conflict is only growing,” Rahr concluded.