Nothing is going well between Armenia and Russia. Yerevan is multiplying gestures likely to irritate the Kremlin, even though its security has essentially been based on Russian support for decades. In question, what is perceived by the Armenians as passivity on the part of the ” strategic partner in the very strong tensions that their country is experiencing with neighboring Azerbaijan. Update on these frictions with Régis Genté, RFI correspondent in the South Caucasus.
2 mins
What are these gestures that demonstrate anger from Yerevan against Moscow ?
As for the series of measures and announcements in recent days, there was first an interview with the Prime Minister on September 1, Nikol Pashinyanin the Italian daily La Repubblicain which he affirms that for his country, having entrusted its security to Russia had been a “ strategic error “. A few days later, we learned that the Armenian army would hold, from September 11 to 20, military exercises with the United States.
We also learned that, for the first time, Yerevan would send humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Finally, and not least in what looks like a snub for Moscow, Armenia recalled its representative to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)this Russian-dominated military organization made up of former Soviet republics.
What are the reasons for this anger of Armenia?
Essentially what is perceived in Armenia as passivity towards Azerbaijan which, since its victory in what was called the Second World War Nagorno-Karabakh, at the end of 2020, puts enormous pressure on this secessionist province to regain definitive control, and also carries out multiple incursions on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia itself. Thus, since December 2022 for example, the 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh have suffered a Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting them to Armenia. And this against the text of the agreement signed at the end of the 2020 war, according to which the Russian interposition force, of 2,000 soldiers, was to keep control of the said corridor.
This has created an alarming humanitarian situation. And it was finally only on Saturday September 9 that an agreement was reached so that Russian humanitarian aid finally reached the inhabitants of Karabakh. But it remains to be seen what scale this humanitarian aid will be.
Read alsoNagorno-Karabakh: Armenia demands explanations from Putin on the inaction of Russian forces
Why this series of gestures last week?
Because the situation is still tense in recent days. Azerbaijan is deploying forces along the Karabakh “contact line”, raising fears of a new military operation. Prime Minister Pashinian wants to alert the West, both to prevent an attack on Azerbaijan and so that peace can be achieved, which is nevertheless being negotiated.
Read alsoArmenian Prime Minister considers new war with Azerbaijan “very likely”