Who or What Was Russian President Putin Protecting? Armen Gevorgyan

«The Alternative Projects Group» has published an article by former Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan titled «Who or What Was President Putin Protecting?» addressing the key highlights from the Russian president's interview yesterday.

The article is presented below:

“After Vladimir Putin’s interview yesterday, many are asking me who was Putin protecting: the Armenian government or the opposition? Of course, both options are incorrect. Putin was protecting Russia’s strategic interests, as he always does, and this time he did it in a very correct manner, which, unfortunately, is not something we are used to.

Main Observations:

• In the interview, there was a visible effort to console the defeated Armenian people. All attempts to justify the defeated Pashinyan were merely manifestations of a sense of debt to the Armenian people.
• A leader of one state cannot consider a leader of another state a traitor, especially if they have signed an agreement together regarding Artsakh. Furthermore, it is important to understand that Pashinyan did not betray Russian interests; he prioritized Armenian national interests, and only the Armenian people can recognize that.
• No matter what, Nikol already has his evaluation in the pages of Armenian history.
• President Putin confirmed our concerns regarding the inadequacy of the Armenian leadership to assess their possibilities and the situation at the front, and, in fact, with each new day of the war, there were more and more unjustified human and territorial losses, especially following the negotiations of October 19-20.
• Simultaneously, during those days, Pashinyan was seeking a mandate for unpopular decisions from the Security Council, Artsakh authorities, and Armenian political parties to relieve himself of personal responsibility.
• Finally, the truth about Shushi has become clear: the issue of handing over the city arose only after October 20 due to the weakening of the Armenian side.
• Russia has supported Armenia, and this is a fact, but the Armenians themselves have found themselves in this situation.
• Putin made it clear that the resolution of the Artsakh issue has always been and continues to be in Russia’s hands; therefore, other countries should not be 'offended'; this is an objective reality.
• The question of Artsakh's status is not closed; it is a subject for further negotiations, during which Armenia itself must decide on the recognition of Artsakh’s independence.

Aside from the Artsakh issue:

• A government that comes from the 'street' cannot be effective, and maybe the policy of societal division led to such consequences for Armenia.
• There are people in Armenia whom Putin considers his friends, and there are others with whom he maintains interstate relations. Feel the difference.

Why did these statements come now?

Yesterday's statements were directed at two main target audiences. The first is Armenian. I believe that the Russian leadership has already understood that Pashinyan's imminent resignation is inevitable, and his remaining in power could lead to acute internal conflict. Therefore, it was important for the potential new leadership of the country to realize that the signed Declaration has no alternative.

The second audience was the military-political elite of the Azerbaijani-Turkish coalition. They were informed that all major decisions have already been made at this moment, and they should proceed from the established status quo and cease to display 'muscle flexing'. Russia, based on the example of South Ossetia, knows how to act if there is an attempt to escalate the situation again in the presence of peacekeepers.”