Ruben Vardanyan Presents Two Scenarios for Armenia's Development Post-Crisis

The former owner of the investment company "Troika Dialog", Ruben Vardanyan, has announced in an interview with RBC TV that he sees two scenarios for Armenia's development following the current political crisis, characterized by confrontation between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the leadership of the Armenian army.

In his remarks, Vardanyan expressed hope that the conflict between the government leader and his opponents would not lead to any casualties. He also suggested that the people of Armenia should now choose political figures who evoke the least amount of rejection among them.

According to the billionaire, people in Armenia constantly talk about the past but do not discuss the future of the country. He speculated, "There’s a possibility that we can become a very quiet, not very active place where 1.5-2 million people will remain, where the same $2 billion assistance will be sent (from the Armenian diaspora abroad). People will live better because there will be more money distributed among fewer people since more people have left. It would be a country similar to Abkhazia, I would say."

Vardanyan labeled this scenario "absolutely realistic," noting that, according to his data, this year 200,000 people plan to leave Armenia, and another 200,000 to 300,000 are considering it. The population of the Republic is currently just below 3 million.

"These people vote with their feet. They do not believe that they or their children will succeed in this country," he said. Vardanyan stated that under such a scenario, passive individuals would remain in the country, stating that while they would live poorly, they would generally be happy with everything.

"You learn to rely on that (money coming from abroad). It’s like a drug. As a mandatory income, it’s just that the state doesn’t provide it, but your relatives send it to you," said the businessman.

At the same time, Vardanyan pointed out that another scenario is possible, in which Armenia would become a unique example of interaction between the state and society. However, in this case, according to the businessman, there is a need for more active participation from the diaspora in the life of the country.

"Not merely to criticize from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Paris, or Los Angeles and say how bad it is here, or send a little money to feel their conscience is clear. Are they ready to stand up and come? Moreover, to come not for a ministerial position, but to go to a village," Vardanyan posed the question.

"We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people. It’s not just a few dozen top managers who will come to Armenia and turn it into paradise. This is a complete change in the model of ‘guys, we will sort everything out here ourselves, and you come to us sometimes, look at Ararat, cry, eat barbecues and go back,’" Vardanyan concluded.

It should be noted that the leadership of the Armenian General Staff, led by Onik Gasparyan, and all corps commanders have issued a statement demanding Nikol Pashinyan's resignation.