Pashinyan Preferred a Cheaper Option While Armenia Could Have Jointly Produced Sputnik V with Russia, Says Russian Analyst

Russian analyst Sergey Markov stated that the development of vaccines against the coronavirus is initially focused on combating the pandemic, but there are significant political and economic components involved in the process. In an interview with Tert.am, he emphasized that these three aspects are interrelated.

“Of course, everyone needs vaccines, but on the other hand, there is fierce competition in the pharmaceutical market among major drug manufacturers. It is possible that one company can successfully create an effective vaccine at this stage, and many would think that it saved them; later, these people will continue to use medications from the same company. We are talking about income in the hundreds of billions of dollars. And this is not just about today but the future,” he said, noting that in this regard, businesses can go to any lengths, sometimes pushing politics aside.

Regarding the political component in the vaccine sales process, Sergey Markov pointed out that there is currently a struggle against Russian and Chinese vaccines around the world. “American companies, such as Moderna and Pfizer, and the British AstraZeneca have no issues penetrating various markets; they easily enter European and other markets without political risks. However, the West pursues a policy of isolation against Russian and Chinese vaccines. The West wants to portray Russia and China as suspicious countries, implying that they have ulterior motives. This creates distrust among their citizens who are supposed to receive the vaccine. The Western political elites, also using the topic of these vaccines, are trying to once again depict Russia and China as questionable countries,” he noted.

The Russian analyst emphasized that this occurs despite the fact that the vaccines produced in both countries are quite effective in combating the pandemic. He observed that many European countries have acquired the Russian vaccine, but the European Commission and the USA have banned its usage. “This clearly indicates that there is purely a political issue,” he said.

According to Sergey Markov, sociological surveys show that the Russian Sputnik V is the most recognized globally. “It appears that Russia is succeeding in breaking this blockade. This speaks to the trust the vaccine enjoys among the public. Furthermore, Sputnik V is registered as a vaccine,” he mentioned.

Referring to the Armenian authorities' acquisition of the British AstraZeneca vaccine when it was previously said that the widespread vaccine in the country would be the Russian Sputnik V, the Russian analyst remarked, “I was just in shock; I was astonished when I learned that Armenia would use the British vaccine instead of the Russian one. Armenia could have avoided purchasing Sputnik V from Russia and could have produced it together with Russia in Armenia, which would have been much more advantageous.” He expressed hope that perhaps the Armenian side would reach an agreement with the Russians on this issue.

He suggested that the reason might be that Nikol Pashinyan wanted to announce the acquisition of a vaccine to his population sooner. “There is very little left of Sputnik V in the market, while there was a lot of British AstraZeneca available because many countries had refused to import it, knowing that it might be dangerous. “Pashinyan likely found the cheaper option more convenient,” he noted, indicating that here we encounter an economic issue.

Sergey Markov asserted that Armenia could have cooperated with Russia in this field, benefiting not only from the fight against the coronavirus but also from other vaccines. “Russia can not only sell the vaccine to Armenia but also allow Armenia to become Russia's franchise. This means that Armenia itself could engage in the sale of the vaccine,” he said.

When asked how Russia would respond if its strategic partner Armenia did not purchase the Russian vaccine, Sergey Markov replied, “Of course, this would be perceived negatively, but it would not mean that it would become a major political issue. Putin may frown, but he would not decide to punish.”

It is noteworthy that the first batch of vaccine against the coronavirus, totaling 24,000 doses, has been imported into Armenia. The COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca was acquired within the framework of the COVAX FACILITY initiative, as announced by the Armenian Ministry of Health.

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that earlier there was approval in Armenia for the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus. The Deputy Director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, Gayane Sahakyan, had stated back in February that one dose of Sputnik V would cost Armenia around $10, plus transportation costs. According to Sahakyan, this was the most suitable and affordable option being offered to Armenia at that time.