Nikolay Silaev: An ally can only help those who do something for themselves

Senior research fellow at the Institute for International Studies at MGIMO, political expert Nikolay Silaev commented to Alpha News on the current relations between Armenia and Russia amidst the latest mutual accusations.

“Russia believes that the allied relationship and friendship with Armenia continue. Although the Armenian authorities make a number of political mistakes, Russia does not seek to make relations with Armenia worse and it will definitely not become the initiator of the conflict,” Silaev said.

As for the information spread by pro-government telegram channels about the alleged presence of militants from the PMC Wagner in Armenia with the aim of carrying out a coup, the expert said:
“As for the question about Wagner, this is some kind of outrageous nonsense. If they wanted to spoil something for Russia, they only spoiled it for themselves. Because people who allow themselves to publish such news admit, to put it mildly, their own incompetence. They should have come up with something more plausible.”

The political expert believes that Russia proceeds primarily from its own interests in relations with its partners, and Armenia, in turn, should act rather than sit idly.

“We must admit that the Armenian society has some reasons to be disappointed in the effectiveness of the union with Russia. On the other hand, every reasonable politician and observer must understand the situation in which Russia finds itself – the importance for Russia of relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan – and understand that the Russian political course is determined primarily by Russian interests and the opportunities and threats which Russia is facing. An ally can only help those who do something for themselves! This is the most important limitation that Russia faces in its course in the South Caucasus,” Silaev said.

“It is obvious that Armenia needs to diversify its foreign policy ties. Although they are already quite diversified. The principle of Armenia’s foreign policy has always been multi-vector. However, this multi-vector policy can be carried out by finding new friends, or it can be carried out by insulting old friends in the hope that these insults will attract new ones. Armenia is taking actions that will obviously irritate Russia in order to demonstrate its loyalty to the United States. I don’t think that this will lead to any meaningful result, because both the United States and its European allies are also not eager to expand their foreign policy obligations.

It was at the European negotiating table that Armenia agreed that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan. It happened not in Moscow, but in Brussels. And in such conditions, I would not hope that the West will be more pro-Armenian than Russia,” Silaev concluded.