Russia is not leaving South Caucasus, our bases remain there – Viktor Litovkin

Speaking with Alpha News, military expert and political scientist Viktor Litovkin commented on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s skeptical remarks about the peace agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“Russia welcomes the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russia always supports peace anywhere in the world. As for the terms of the agreement, that’s a matter strictly between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Russia has nothing to do with it. If it benefits Armenia and it benefits Azerbaijan—then God willing, let it be. Another thing is that Russia is not withdrawing from the Caucasus. Our bases remain in Armenia. So our influence on Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia remains. In Georgia, on the territory of South Ossetia, on the territory of Abkhazia, again, our bases are also present. So I believe it’s an oversimplification to suggest that Russia is leaving the Caucasus,” the expert said.

According to Litovkin, the history of Russia’s presence in the South Caucasus is not over, and current events are just a stage in the confrontation between major powers in the region.

“We must understand that neither Pashinyan nor Aliyev are eternal. What is eternal are Russia’s interests in the Caucasus—just as Turkey’s and the United States’ interests are. There will be yet another chapter, so to speak, in the competition among these nations to maintain a presence in the South Caucasus and influence the region’s political landscape,” he concluded.