Many of the processes that provided Armenia with economic growth began precisely under Kocharyan: Oleg Matveychev

Oleg Matveychev, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies and Communications, commented to Alpha News on the congratulatory telegram from Russian President Vladimir Putin sent to the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, on the occasion of his birthday, and also assessed the political processes taking place in the republic today.

“Kocharyan’s arrest itself, as well as other arrests of oppositionists that are carried out in Armenia, in no way correspond to the course that Pashinyan claims, that he allegedly strives for European norms, values, democracy, and so on. In fact, we see that an authoritarian system is being built, which is engaged in the destruction of the opposition. The path that Pashinyan is following is rather the path of Ukraine, where elections are not held, where people are not allowed out of the country, where they are grabbed on the streets and sent to slaughter. That is, this is exactly the way, and not at all those sweet dreams of Europe, where legality and absence of corruption supposedly reign,” Matveychev said.

According to the expert, the situation looks particularly significant against the background of the events preceding Nikol Pashinyan’s coming to power.

“When Pashinyan was brought to power, they said that the opposition had been crushed in the country. But nobody arrested Pashinyan himself. And now he’s arresting the entire opposition himself, rigging elections, and committing absolute lawlessness. Naturally, Russia and President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin care about this. We respect all presidents, including former ones, especially those who actively cooperated with Russia and brought many benefits to the Armenian people. Many of the processes that provided Armenia with economic growth began precisely under Kocharyan,” the MP noted.

As Matveychev emphasized, the issue of what is happening in Armenia is likely to be raised at a high political level, although Russia does not intend to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.

“Of course, the issue will be raised: how does it happen that Armenia acts in this way, what are the grounds for this, and are we really dealing with legality or lawlessness? We have no right to interfere in Armenia’s internal affairs and legal system, and it is unlikely that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin will do so. But I think that assessments of what is happening will be given,” he said.

According to the expert, the ongoing processes indicate that Armenia, moving away from Russia, is not approaching European values, but is becoming an instrument of external forces.

“Moving away from Russia, Armenia, of course, does not come to any Europe. She becomes a tool, just like Zelensky’s team, which consists of former Soros members, like Pashinyan. The Armenian people, like the Ukrainian or Moldovan people before, will be used in the interests of global elites, and not at all to make these peoples feel better. And I think this danger will be pointed out once again,” Matveychev concluded.