Pashinyan Mentioned in GRU Reports Under the Operative Alias 'Boroda': The Insider

The Inter-Regional and Cultural Relations Department with the former Soviet Union countries was established in 2005, a year after the victory of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. These events greatly concerned Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the creation of a department within the presidential administration to counter the emergence of 'velvet' revolutions in neighboring countries and to promote politicians and political parties loyal to the Kremlin. The Insider agency reports.

In addition to Ukraine, the department's operational interests included Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Moldova, Kazakhstan, as well as the Baltic states and the self-proclaimed Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The agency also notes that the Kremlin was particularly worried about the near-complete absence of organizations in Azerbaijan that could promote Russian interests, unlike Turkey. Thus, various events, conferences, roundtables, and exhibitions have been organized in Baku with funds from the Russian budget. According to a source who spoke to The Insider, over a hundred million dollars have been invested for friendship with Azerbaijan, but everything has proven futile.

As for Armenia, the so-called 'Armenian' department has reported that pro-Russian narratives are primarily disseminated by politicians of retirement age, and that young people are not interested in them. There is a need for financial support for young and 'fresh' faces.

GRU officer Dmitry Avanesov has been monitoring the situation in Armenia. The Insider has access to 'mole' reports from the Armenian government, which have documented all of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's movements. Pashinyan is mentioned in the reports under the operative alias 'Boroda.'