Turkey is main beneficiary of so-called ‘Zangezur corridor’ – Alexander Tsinker

Alexander Tsinker, head of the ICES International Center, spoke to Alpha News about the persecution of the opposition and the Church in Armenia, the lifting of restrictions on cargo transit through Azerbaijan to Armenia, the opening of the so-called “Zangezur corridor,” the cancellation of a meeting between Russian and US leaders, and the potential collapse of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

“Taking the mayor to the Anti-Corruption Committee over such a bribe is more like a performance. This reflects the unstable political situation: neither the government nor the opposition are confident of the election outcome. The coalition fears a repeat of the Gyumri scenario, where the united opposition won. The opposition, meanwhile, is still very fragmented. Whether they can unite is still uncertain. Whether it will be a single bloc or several that later merge is still a matter of internal discussion. Since the election campaign hasn’t officially begun yet, targeted attempts at elimination and pressure are currently underway,” Tsinker said.

According to the expert, the main beneficiary of the so-called “Zangezur corridor” is Turkey.

“The future depends on the new government’s agenda. If the current course is maintained, communications will likely begin to open. Turkey and Azerbaijan are already preparing their sections of the road to the Armenian border. With a civilized organization, there are no risks—transport between neighbors must function if we are moving toward peace. The main thing is thoughtful implementation, then there will be no threats to Armenia’s sovereignty. The main beneficiary of the so-called ‘Zangezur corridor’ is Turkey: it was Turkey’s idea from the start, and it will gain access through Nakhichevan and Armenia to Azerbaijan, and then to Central Asia. This is part of the ‘Great Turan’ project. Politically, Turkey and Azerbaijan gain the most, though Armenia could see economic benefits, but the political aspect dominates. Hopefully, everything will be implemented for peaceful purposes, but there is still a long way to go. Some transport routes are already opening, but we must wait for the elections in Armenia and see what steps the country takes next,” Tsinker concluded.