In the Kremlin’s lavish halls, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently engaged in critical talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin hosted Nikol Pashinyan for talks following a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-dominated economic alliance. Russia’s once-steadfast partne, Armenia’s trust in Moscow has been deeply shaken by recent events in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, where a fierce military campaign by Azerbaijan in September severed Armenian separatists’ three-decade rule.
The crux of the discord lies in the role of Russian peacekeepers, stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh following hostilities in 2020. Armenia has levied serious allegations against these forces, accusing them of failing to halt Azerbaijan’s offensive. Russia, which maintains a military base in Armenia, has rebuffed these claims, asserting that its peacekeepers lacked the mandate for intervention.
The Kremlin, in turn, has been angered by Pashinyan’s efforts to deepen ties with the West and distance his country from Moscow-dominated security and economic alliances. Just as Pashinyan was visiting Moscow on Wednesday, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry announced that the country will stop paying fees to the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-dominated security pact. Armenia has previously suspended its participation in the grouping as Pashinyan has sought to bolster ties with the European Union and NATO. Further provocation came from Armenia’s joining of the International Criminal Court, which notably issued an indictment against Putin for alleged war crimes linked to Ukraine.
Putin, during the meeting, did acknowledge the growth of bilateral trade between the two nations but was quick to point out the “issues concerning security in the region.” Pashinyan, too, noted that “certain issues have piled up” since his last visit to Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted to “certain problems in our bilateral relations,” but emphasized a continued political will for dialogue.
Relevant articles:
– Armenia’s prime minister in Russia for talks amid strain in ties, CityNews Halifax, 05/08/2024
– Pashinian To Shun Putin’s Inauguration (UPDATED), Ազատություն Ռադիոկայան, 05/06/2024