Pashinyan’s course is leading to a rupture with Russia: Andrei Perla

Andrei Perla, political analyst, commented to Alpha News on reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed holding a referendum in Armenia on the country’s relations with the European Union and Russia, as well as on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s decision to skip the EAEU summit in Astana on May 28–29 due to the election campaign.

“Vladimir Putin’s proposal to hold a referendum in Armenia on joining the EU or leaving the EAEU is essentially an indication that the majority of Armenian voters, as we know well from opinion polls published both inside Armenia and abroad, do not actually support Nikol Pashinyan’s position. Most polls show that Armenian citizens do not support Pashinyan. He may have a relative majority among the leaders of Armenia’s political parties, but he does not have the support of an absolute majority of Armenians. Roughly two thirds of citizens oppose Pashinyan’s policies. And if we ask which policies specifically, it turns out to be precisely what is called Pashinyan’s European course, the course toward severing relations with Russia. On the other hand, if we ask ourselves what the key elements of the political program Pashinyan is offering Armenia are, we find that it is exactly a program of breaking ties with Russia. Vladimir Putin is sharpening this question; he is showing Armenia what choice it will have to make on June 7. It is a choice between the interests of the majority of the Armenian people and the so-called European ambitions of Pashinyan and his sponsors,” Perla said.

According to the analyst, Pashinyan’s course is leading to a rupture with Russia.

“It is no secret that Pashinyan has set a course toward gradually but as quickly as possible withdrawing Armenia from Russia’s sphere of influence. Absolutely everything Pashinyan does betrays Russia and its interests in the name of Armenia’s right to remain or become a slave of the European Union, a slave of Russia’s enemies. As for the election campaign, yes, indeed, Pashinyan currently has no more pressing task than trying to get re-elected, despite being supported by a minority of the population,” Perla concluded.