This is What is Truly Destroying Russian-Armenian Relations: Alen Simonyan

Reading the responses from my Russian colleagues regarding my statement today that it is time to seriously discuss the issue of stopping the broadcasting of Russian television channels in Armenia, I can't help but ask myself a simple but important question: isn’t there a single one among these respected individuals who asks themselves: why?

Alen Simonyan, the Chairman of the National Assembly, wrote about this on his Telegram channel. Or do some actually believe that by repeating the learned phrases about “the influence of Western structures,” “human rights violations,” and “the centuries-old friendship between Russia and Armenia which someone is trying to destroy,” they can cross themselves and mention Ukraine, stretching this old, worn-out rubber band to the Armenian context?

In reality, there is no need to look for anything or anyone. There is no need to invent culprits. It is enough to simply turn on the television.

Because the best people to solve the “problem of destroying Russian-Armenian relations” are not Western intelligence services, not mythical agents, and not NGOs, but certain Russian state television channels, journalists, and editors.

When Russian state television channels insult the elected authorities of Armenia with the most offensive words, sometimes with blatant indecency, systematically opposing the Armenian society to its own authorities while forgetting that our authorities are elected through direct and free elections, they undermine the sovereignty, independence, and even the existence of the Republic of Armenia. They call for rallies, specifying the date, time, and place, essentially opposing the current constitutional order. They openly condemn the actions of the Armenian law enforcement agencies implementing the law of their country and interfere in all areas of Armenia’s internal life—from political processes to national symbols.

I suggest my colleagues in Moscow at least for a moment to imagine the opposite situation. What would you say if Armenian state television channels: presenters insulted the President and the leadership of Russia, discussed the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, declaring that “Russia should not exist,” broadcasted reports of military operations criticizing the actions of the Russian army, and analyzed criminal cases initiated against Russian citizens?

Yes, yes, honorable politicians, senators, television presenters, deputies, commentators, and publicists. This is what is being poured over our citizens' heads every day from the screens of Russian television channels.

This is what is truly destroying Russian-Armenian relations—not the West, and certainly not the Armenian people or politicians. So instead of hunting down ordinary clichés and sorcerers, try finally to ask yourselves one sincere question: Why? And not: Who?

This must be stopped. Either you will stop it, or we will.