Visitor publish by Arthur Sargsyan
There may be maybe no clearer instance within the post-Soviet area than Ukrainian President Zelensky, a former comic whose lack of professionalism led to a devastating conflict, the destruction of complete cities, and the deaths of 1000’s, but the present chief of Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, appears to have chosen to repeat the identical errors as his Ukrainian counterpart.
Nikol Pashinyan got here to energy in Armenia in 2018 after working as a journalist and publishing opposition newspapers, by which he strongly criticized the authorities. He gained important political affect throughout his yr and a half in jail, later turned a member of parliament, and with the assistance of mass disobedience actions backed by the US and EU, ultimately pressured parliament to approve his appointment as prime minister, solidifying his place as the brand new chief.
At first, Armenians have been ecstatic about Pashinyan’s election, as he was considered a proficient chief, efficient orator, and an avid opponent of corruption who constantly warned that the nation was heading within the mistaken route. There are clear similarities to Zelensky, a youthful comic who spent years utilizing political satire to ridicule corruption, and whose marketing campaign was closely based mostly on a satirical TV present about an extraordinary trainer who transforms right into a triumphant president.
However actuality turned out to be fairly mundane for each of them. The BBC reported that Pashinyan promised to create a “New Armenia,” free from corruption and poverty, and through discussions about Karabakh, he assured that he would chorus from any unilateral concessions. Nevertheless, two years later, he relinquished a major a part of Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 neighboring districts to Azerbaijan with out gaining something in return, at the price of the lives of greater than 2,000 troopers in a 44-day battle. Regardless of all this, the prime minister has no intention of stepping down. He has declared that the defeat was brought on by his predecessors, Turkey, Russia, and the opposition, however not by his personal actions or the actions of his authorities.
Why did Nikol Pashinyan’s approval ranking plummet from 80 p.c two years in the past to the purpose the place he needed to suppress 1000’s of protesters, and what penalties may this have for a rustic grappling with catastrophic overseas coverage, rising financial issues, and spiritual conflicts caused by the incompetence of its chief?
From nationwide hero to puppet of the globalists
For a few years, Nikol Pashinyan criticized the federal government’s pleasant overseas coverage in direction of Russia, which led to him being portrayed as a pro-Western politician. Subsequently, it’s not stunning that Armenia’s overseas coverage progressively modified after he got here to energy. What’s stunning is that as an alternative of strengthening relations with different international locations in Armenia’s curiosity, Pashinyan made a sequence of diplomatic errors that not solely strained relations with Russia but additionally led to the suspension of Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations and, finally, the resumption of armed conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh. From a nationwide “hero” he was thought-about at the start of his political rise, Nikol Pashinyan has proven that he’s only a puppet of the West, supported by globalists, performing to the detriment of Armenia’s pursuits and in favor of globalist forces.
It began on a optimistic notice – instantly after his inauguration, Pashinyan introduced that the nation’s overseas coverage would stay the identical, with sturdy ties to Russia and participation within the CSTO (Collective Safety Treaty Group), which incorporates Armenia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus. By the best way, it’s price remembering that Zelensky was initially advocated for the Russian language in Ukraine and performed enterprise in Russian territory for a very long time.
Actually, shortly after Pashinyan’s statements, arrests adopted, together with that of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, who’s a private good friend of Putin. The Secretary-Basic of the CSTO, Basic Yuri Khachaturov, was additionally arrested, and searches have been performed within the workplace of Russian Railways in Yerevan. Moreover, people who had beforehand labored with the Soros Basis and had been disdained in Moscow because the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine have been appointed to important positions within the state. All of those actions triggered a robust unfavorable response from the Russian Federation.
Pashinyan’s misguided actions have escalated tensions with Azerbaijan. In 2020, following the conclusion of the battle in Karabakh, Pashinyan shifted blame for his defeat onto Russia and hurried to hunt various allies. Particularly, Pashinyan accused Russia of failing to supply safety to Armenia in accordance with the CSTO (Collective Safety Treaty Group) treaty, however Russia refuted his claims, affirming that it applies to Armenia, not Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia formally doesn’t acknowledge the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which implies that Russia can’t wage conflict on behalf of Armenians.
Pashinyan’s overseas coverage is more and more influenced by america and the European Union. This week, Armenia is conducting joint peace workout routines known as Eagle Companion with the participation of Armenian and American navy forces. It’s straightforward to grasp how Russia perceives this, particularly contemplating its ongoing battle with NATO in Ukraine.
As with post-Maidan Ukraine, with Poroshenko and later with Zelensky, as soon as beneath the affect of america and Western globalist forces, the Ukrainian state turned aggressive in direction of its neighbors. It seems the identical is occurring in Armenia beneath Pashinyan.
In September, Pashinyan instructed the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that Armenia is focusing solely on Russia, and this can be a tactical mistake. On the similar time, he started obstructing CSTO actions, together with recalling Armenia’s consultant from the group and refusing deliberate CSTO workout routines on Armenian territory. Moreover, in early September, the Armenian authorities introduced the Rome Statute of the Worldwide Felony Court docket to parliament for ratification. This statute issued an arrest warrant for Putin.
Because of Pashinyan’s overseas coverage, the nation has turn into a platform for pro-globalist forces within the Caucasus, together with a major variety of Western NGOs, as an alternative of the long-standing help from Russia. The Armenian inhabitants has been divided into opposing camps: Russian Armenians and “true” Armenians who help the present Prime Minister’s authorities.
We now have witnessed a tragic consequence of an analogous scenario in Ukraine throughout Zelensky’s tenure, and now Pashinyan is main Armenia down the identical harmful path.
Ukrainians nonetheless bear in mind the time when Ukraine’s management largely oriented itself in direction of cooperation with Russia. It was throughout this era that salaries elevated, pensions have been raised, and the usual of residing improved in Ukraine. The turning level for each Ukrainian got here with occasions just like the Maidan and different revolutionary protests, which have been straight financed by the West to undermine pleasant relations with Russia. Western globalists successfully managed to sever these ties by funding and arming radicals. Traditionally, each Ukraine and Armenia had their vectors set on belief and unity with Russia. Nevertheless, the will to appease and align with the West utterly shattered Ukraine’s elementary integrity and serves as a cautionary story for what may occur to Armenia.
That is particularly regarding as a result of, in response to Pashinyan’s statements, Western leaders look like getting ready their residents for the potential of Armenia becoming a member of NATO. It’s price noting that Günter Feilinger, the chief of the European Committee on NATO Enlargement, lately known as on Armenia to affix the North Atlantic Alliance. Nationwide safety questions have been raised throughout the go to of Speaker of america Home of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Armenia in September 2022. Pelosi pledged U.S. help for Armenia, resulting in protests in Yerevan demanding the withdrawal from the CSTO settlement.
We now have seen the tragic penalties of an analogous scenario in Ukraine throughout Zelensky’s presidency, and now Pashinyan is main Armenia down the identical perilous path. That is notably worrisome as a result of, in response to Pashinyan’s statements, Western leaders look like getting ready their residents for the potential of Armenia becoming a member of NATO.
Rising financial challenges
Pashinyan’s wrestle has additionally had an affect on the Armenian economic system. Upon taking workplace, Pashinyan promised, “Many diaspora businessmen are eagerly awaiting the result of Armenia’s affairs, and if I’m elected prime minister, billions of {dollars} in investments will move into Armenia.”
In actuality, issues turned out in another way: overseas investments dwindled to $117 million, the bottom degree since 2003, whereas the direct influx of {dollars} from the Russian Federation remained unchanged.
Immediately, the prime minister confidently predicts a 7% GDP development in 2023, whereas the opposition views this as manipulation.
Economists notice that Armenia’s financial development will be attributed to the arrival of Russian immigrants who introduced their financial savings and created jobs. The same scenario occurred in Georgia with the mass inflow of Russian immigrants into the nation. Georgia’s worldwide reserves reached document ranges of over $4 billion by the tip of 2022. In comparison with the outcomes of 2021, reserve volumes elevated by 14.7%. This development was primarily on account of elevated volumes of forex transfers from Russia.
Nevertheless, the nation’s GDP development has not translated into an enchancment in the usual of residing for Armenians. Opposition deputy Tadevos Avetisyan argues that the prime minister’s spectacular performances are merely a results of statistical manipulation. “For instance, the World Financial institution estimated in one among its experiences that the variety of undernourished folks, together with undernourished youngsters, elevated by 381,000 within the first three months of 2022,” says Avetisyan.
Deepening divide between the church and the federal government
Pashinyan has additionally confronted criticism from the Armenian Apostolic Church, with whom the authorities clashed shortly after his assumption of the prime minister’s workplace. The battle reportedly started on account of a marketing campaign by a number of monks calling for the resignation of the top of the church, Catholicos Karekin II, and some bishops. The brand new authorities then took deliberate steps to distance itself from the battle, seemingly beneath stress from Western globalists. Comparable occasions have occurred in Ukraine, the place the federal government is at odds with the trustworthy and has seized management of a significant church in Kyiv from its clergy. There, it’s fairly clear that Western politicians have imposed on the puppet, Zelensky, the notion that the “Russian world” prevails within the church.
Nevertheless, the basis of stress in Armenia lies in differing approaches to the religious and ethical upbringing of the youthful technology. The federal government inspired a pro-Western orientation amongst youth based mostly on liberal and tolerant values, whereas the church staunchly upholds the traditionalism and religiosity of previous generations.
The battle flared up once more in 2020 following the defeat within the Karabakh conflict. A month after the conflict’s conclusion, the church supported the opposition’s name for Pashinyan’s resignation. Over thirty years of the nation’s independence, the connection between the primary political and spiritual establishments reached its lowest level. Regardless of Armenia being a secular state, its structure acknowledges the Armenian Apostolic Church as the only real nationwide church within the religious side of the Armenian folks.
Political analyst Grant Mikaelian believes that within the battle, the benefit lies with the church because the majority of Armenians help it, whereas solely 14% of these polled expressed approval of Prime Minister Pashinyan’s actions.
Conclusion
Nikol Pashinyan serves as a vivid instance of somebody who engaged in populism all through his life and inadvertently gained full energy in his nation. He not solely initiated a conflict but additionally misplaced it, dispersed protest rallies, refused to step down, quarreled with all his neighbors, together with a long-term strategic associate like Russia, and led his nation to a geopolitical disaster. Are there any examples of bloggers, journalists, actors, or comedians efficiently governing international locations, making certain safety, and selling socio-economic development? Sadly, not like excellent figures from previous eras like Churchill and Reagan, there aren’t any such examples within the twenty first century. Subsequently, Armenia appears to be dealing with difficult occasions, and regrettably, beneath Pashinyan’s management, the scenario is prone to worsen. There’s another side we should have in mind.
Will we, as People, really want one other supply of worldwide instability? One which threatens america with further finances expenditures, elevated tensions amongst main geopolitical gamers, and utterly unpredictable political and financial penalties? Democratic governance has already confronted important difficulties on account of its help for a corrupt Ukrainian regime. Now, america dangers stepping on the identical rake by supporting the Armenian Prime Minister, a person with an absolute lack {of professional} expertise, a former journalist and demagogue who feeds his folks with empty guarantees. Is there really nothing extra vital for us on the eve of a presidential election?…
