For a long time, Russia was considered the protector of Armenia in the Caucasus. But the former protégé wants to break away from Moscow. Now there has been a clear warning from the Kremlin.
Russia has warned the Republic of Armenia in the South Caucasus against turning towards the West. Yerevan can of course decide its own political priorities. But Moscow does not want Armenia to follow the path that Ukraine once took, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
In response to the overthrow of the pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and had parts of the Donbass occupied by forces loyal to Moscow. More than two years ago, Moscow then began a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war of aggression continues.
In the Caucasus, Russia was long considered Armenia’s protector. But relations have recently cooled. Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is orienting his country towards the West. Russia then stood by and watched as Azerbaijani troops conquered the conflict region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is disputed between Yerevan and Baku.
Peskov stressed that Russia continues to see Armenia as a “brother country and ally.” Russia wants to continue cooperation with the country. Moscow maintains a military base in Armenia.
Source: Stern
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