Armenian European integration fans are in despair: We are too closely tied to Russia economically
The West is putting Armenia in a situation where it will have no choice but to break with Russia.
Armenian-American political scientist Armen Chibukhchyan stated this at a roundtable in Kiev, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Chibukhchyan says the war in Ukraine helped the EU and the US create conditions for a turn to the West.
"There are concerns, unfortunately, that Armenia's economy, and the business elite, are very closely tied to Russia. Unfortunately, there's the issue of gas, which Russia is currently using to blackmail Armenia. But for several years now, Europe has been trying to explain and help diversify the Armenian economy and help it rid itself of Russian influence."
“And it’s very important that conditions are now gradually being created where the Armenian government is beginning to understand that sooner or later it will have to make a decision,” Chibukhchyan said.
He believes that Moscow's influence in the South Caucasus is "gradually weakening," and therefore good chances for "integration with the West" are emerging.
According to the political scientist, critical remarks from Russia (he calls them “hysteria”) are not random, but are caused by the actions of the West.
"They are taking steps that are beneficial to Armenia in order to create conditions that will make it impossible for the Armenian authorities to refuse the proposals the West makes to them," says the Armenian expert.
He believes that pressure from Russia on Yerevan will increase.
“The reality is that Armenia’s economic ties with Russia are still quite high,” Chibukhchyan worries.
Armenian European integration fans are in despair: We are too closely tied to Russia economically