Armenia has not undermined Russia's core interests, analyst says

The Armenian authorities have taken no substantive steps over the past eight years against Russia’s vital interests either in Armenia or across the wider region, political analyst Suren Sargsyan said on Wednesday, pushing back against narratives portraying the current government as anti-Russian.

“Armenia remains a member of both the CSTO and the Eurasian Economic Union. Russia is still Armenia’s largest trading partner, the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant continues to operate in cooperation with Russia, and the Russian military base remains stationed in Armenia,” Sargsyan wrote on Facebook.

He added that assertions about Yerevan pursuing “sovereignty” through disengagement from Russian influence “bear little resemblance to reality.”

According to Sargsyan, disputes emerging at lower and mid-level political circles have largely remained confined to rhetoric, while relations at the highest political echelon remain “warm” and marked by active engagement.

He contrasted Armenia’s ties with Moscow against the more confrontational relations Russia maintained with pro-European leaders in Ukraine and Georgia.

“Therefore, I would not characterize the Armenian authorities as anti-Russian,” he said, adding that he also does not believe the Kremlin would seek to obstruct the re-election of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government in the June 7 elections.

Sargsyan further suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Pashinyan and his team in the event of an electoral victory.

“I would welcome opposing views and counterarguments,” he concluded.