Eurasianet: Russia gives Armenia an ultimatum demanding it make a clear geopolitical choice
Although Armenia has tried to mend strained relations with Russia in recent weeks as part of a broader effort to get Azerbaijan to sign a peace treaty, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government evidently still cannot resist an occasional poke at the Kremlin, Eurasianet writes.
As noted, The latest Armenian jab was Yerevan’s vote in favor of a UN resolution in early April that condemned Russian aggression against Ukraine. Armenia along with 108 other member states voted for the resolution; the United States was one of nine opposing votes, with US officials reasoning that it did not facilitate the Russian-Ukrainian peace process.
The website states that Moscow is plainly not amused by the small demonstration of Armenian independence. On April 22, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko signaled the Kremlin’s patience with Pashinyan’s government is wearing thin, issuing what could be construed as an ultimatum demanding Armenia make a clear geopolitical choice – either Russia or the West.
The publication states that Pashinyan has diversified his geopolitical options since Armenia’s disastrous defeat at the hands of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh War. Many Armenians blame Russia for losing Karabakh, saying Moscow did not honor treaty obligations to come to Yerevan’s defense. Over the past year, Armenia has strengthened economic and security ties with the United States and European Union, going so far as to launch an EU accession process. At the same time, Armenian leaders have maintained they have no intention of leaving the Moscow-dominated trade bloc, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). As stated, Pashinyan has softened his government’s stance on Russia in recent weeks in the hopes that improved relations with Moscow could help convince Azerbaijan to sign a peace treaty. Since the mid-March announcement that the treaty text was finalized, Baku has balked at formalizing the pact, and instead has ratcheted up belligerent rhetoric.
