End of statehood
Russian president Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Armenia was the last step on the way to the collapse of the Armenian statehood that started on September 3rd, when the Armenian president announced about joining Customs Union. Even though this was a high level official visit, Putting did not visit Yerevan first but Gyumri, which is an important strategic point for Russia’s military. Putin showed where Armenia’s importance starts and ends for him. The 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri is the point where everything is focused. It was not by chance that Putin made his most important statement in Gyumri:
“Russia is not going to give up on South Caucasus but will even strengthen its positions.” Generally this statement was worth to visit Armenia for. Documents signed following this announcement were the continuation of that statement, i.e. were to even strengthen Russia’s positions here. The parties signed a document which transferred the last share of Armenia’s government (20%) in ArmRusGazProm company to Russia’s GazProm.
This was not mere signing of a document but an event to show Armenia’s capitulation, which was done at a very high level. While the government officials in Gyumri and other areas of Armenia were demonstrating excitement about Putin’s visit, thousands of people were protesting in Yerevan against possible integration with the Customs Union.
The authorities used this fact too to flatter with Putin. During this demonstration the policy used force and arrested over 100 people, including women. If the authorities were trying to keep people away from Putin’s eye not to show him how people relate to him in Armenia, it turned to be the vice effect as the whole world saw that there are people in Armenia who are never going to get along with the idea of giving Armenia to Putin. Perhaps Putin will also notice that while hundreds of citizens were protesting in streets on the day of his visit, the parliamentary opposition, beside Heritage party, was discussing the bill on pension funds and the project of the Controller Commission.
