Discussions about the Putin-Pashinyan meeting held yesterday in Moscow do not stop, experts and analysts evaluate the meeting as unprecedented, even sensational, when the diplomatic formulations were put aside and they openly switched to the language of mutual accusations and blackmail.
If Vladimir Putin tried to "cleanse" Pashinyan of the label of a traitor in his meeting with Pashinyan, five less than the 2021 elections, perhaps hoping that Pashinyan would be a predictable partner for him in the South Caucasus after the re-election, then it became clear from the meeting yesterday that Moscow also does not trust Pashinyan's "tears" and the geopolitical tightrope walk between the North and the West, and presents the RA leader with a clear choice.
One of the key topics of the open part of the Pashinyan-Putin meeting was related to EAEU and the EU. Earlier, Moscow announced that participation in European and Eurasian integration projects at the same time is impossible. Yesterday, Putin already told Pashinyan in a direct text that he should choose between the two, otherwise economic complications await us.
"We see that Armenia is discussing developing relations with the European Union. We take it very easy. We understand that any country seeks maximum cooperation with third countries. But it should be open and honest from the very beginning. Being in the customs union with the European Union and EAEU are not possible together. It's simply not possible," the Russian president said yesterday, then hinted that they can raise the price of gas for Armenia as well as for Europe. "As for the price of energy carriers, the price of gas in Europe has risen sharply: 600 dollars per thousand cubic meters, and Russia sells it to Armenia for 177.5 dollars. The difference is huge, significant. We often argue with you here, I know that you insist that the prices of energy carriers should be determined a little differently, but look: 600 dollars and 177.5 dollars. Pashinyan responded that he knows that it is not possible to join both unions at the same time. "When it is not possible and a decision must be made, I am sure that the citizens of Armenia will make a decision."
As for the construction of a new nuclear power plant, Pashinyan said that, in addition to Russian partners, they are discussing this with other countries as well: "We are looking for the most beneficial offer for the Republic of Armenia." The next issue, which has been the cause of tension in Armenian-Russian relations since 2022, is CSTO. Putin said he is aware that the Armenian side has complaints about the CSTO. "But I think it is obvious that in Prague in 2022, when you recognized Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan, CSTO's intervention in this issue, which has already become an intra-Azerbaijani issue, would not be correct at all." Pashinyan, according to his habit, accused Russia of recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan "after the Russian top leadership spoke about it publicly". In other words, he has the courage to freeze CSTO membership, but he was guided by the words of Putin and Russia in the matter of Artsakh. But the most remarkable was the internal political episode of the conversation. The head of the Russian Federation scolded Pashinyan that a person with a Russian passport in Armenia is in prison for trying to engage in politics. "It's your decision, we don't interfere. But we would like them to be able to participate in that internal political work," adding that Moscow will always be guided by the interests of the Armenian people. "Many Armenians live in Russia. We consider more than 2 million people.
And there are many political forces in Armenia that are pro-Russian. We would very much like that all those political forces and politicians could participate in the internal political work during the elections." Yesterday, Pashinyan already gave a laughable answer that Armenia is a democratic country and hinted that in our country social networks are free to use, there are no restrictions, and many people even think that it is too much. A person is already taking a step with a superpower and hinting that we are very democratic compared to you. "And in the general context, to be honest, there are no participants in political processes in our places of imprisonment", forgetting that as a result of his notes, Samvel Karapetyan, reverends were arrested.
He also emphasized that according to our legislation, only those people who have an exclusively Armenian passport can participate in the RA elections. And those who have Russian passports cannot be candidates for either the deputy or the prime minister. Political scientist Grigor Balasanyan notes a number of messages from the Putin-Pashinyan meeting. "The protocol first. Pashinyan is faced with a choice: either EAEU or EU, and that choice will also have energy value in it. Second: it was recorded that there are people in Armenia today who are in prison for their political views, and there are also citizens with Russian passports, as well as the issue of Artsakh, it was actually noted that it continues to be a sensitive issue for Russia, that is, the issue of Artsakh is not closed, and Russia continues to consider the right of Artsakh Armenians to live in their own homeland as a sensitive issue. Let's also add the issue of the nuclear power plant, I do not rule out that the issue of the railway concession was discussed yesterday, which is also a red line for Russia." We noticed that some experts got the impression from the meeting that Putin guarantees that if Pashinyan is not elected, there will be no escalation and war, with which Nikol Pashinyan threatens his people for a long time, he said in plain text that they will work with any government.
"I understood something that the Russian president made it clear that without the knowledge and agreement of the Russian Federation, Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot independently settle issues in the South Caucasus and invite new foreign political sponsors from outside, who will be territorial here." According to the political scientist, it is obvious that in Moscow they no longer believe the assurances that what is being done in Armenia is not against Russia, and this rather open and harsh conversation is proof of that. "Furthermore, I have the impression that this could be the last meeting between Putin and Pashinyan, because whoever was thinking about each other said, they put diplomacy aside and said it without hesitation, without diplomatic tricks." It should also be noted that the Pashinyan-Putin meeting was accompanied by incidents and protest actions, in particular, a protest action was held in front of the Armenian Embassy in Moscow in defense of the Church.
There are also clergymen in the footage spread on Telegram channels, the participants of the action demanded not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Let us remind you that Pashinyan accused the leader of the Russian spiritual diocese, Archbishop Ezras, of being an agent of the Soviet KGB. Another incident took place in the corridor of a Moscow hotel. a group of Armenian women called Pashinyan a traitor, and a man approached, asked to take a picture with a child, and then explained that he was doing it so that the child would know who surrendered Karabakh.
