Disclosure of Russia’s Armenian Agents to Become a Bomb by the USA in RA Domestic Policy Firmament
Stepan (Styopa) Safaryan, founder and head of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs (AIISA), politician, former MP and head of “Heritage” party parliamentary faction, submitted a “Draft bill on lustration” in 2012. In line with a series of actions, pursuant the draft bill, submitted by S.Safaryan, after possible cooperation of special services with foreign countries is revealed, corresponding committee should have applied to proper authorities on a claim to launch impeachment process of those persons or propose that person to voluntarily resign. Recently the US Congress passed a bill, which obliges country’s investigative bodies to provide information on funding of political parties and non-governmental organizations in former Soviet republics by the Russian Federation (RF). A few mass media already provide information, that among the post-Soviet countries Ukraine may be among the first. Our interview with Stepan Safaryan is developing around the abovementioned issues.
-Mr Safaryan, in case the draft bill is adopted how serious processes may generate in the post-Soviet space and what implications it may have?
Surely, it’s early to say, that it’ll cover all the post-Soviet countries. An issue is quite actual nowadays, various manifestations of which are observed both on European and American levels. This refers two crucial components, first of which is information impact. Not accidentally, a resolution was passed by the European Parliament, expressing concerns, that Russia itself is pursuing a rather aggressive policy, including Europe, invading into informational space. It’s not a secret, that it has revealed and obvious advantages in the post-Soviet space, and banning of Russian broadcast in Ukraine, adoption of the statement on civic platform level within Eastern Partnership weren’t accidental, and that broadcast of Russian TV channels should be banned in Armenia and Eastern Partnership countries, as these TV channels propagate hostility and hatred. The second tube, which is crucial in political processes, is that of special service. I mean their activity in the post-Soviet countries, a vivid evidence of which were developments in Ukraine of 2013 in summer, when Ukrainian side found the program prepared by the special service and published it, where a complex action plan was introduced on engagement of Ukraine in Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). In this regard I have rather large evidence, in which I describe, that special services of other countries obviously influence on decisions made by Ukraine, i.e. Russia, and Ukrainian agents were working for them. Accordingly, as after these facts, interference tubes still remain, and Ukraine made a lustration attempt recently, which doesn’t have enough impact, as these countries are more dependent on Russia, than, for instance, Eastern European countries, which much more unimpeded performed declassification process, naturally, the USA undertakes the responsibility. If heads of these countries are afraid of implementing it, we should understand, that lustration will be implemented from the outside and to now, in Ukraine, which, surely, doesn’t mean, that on mid-term or long-term basis the same may occur in case of Armenia. In the end, Armenia also showed in the period of 2011-2012, that it’s not able to implement lustration. This is observed in foreign circles as well, as the issue is in the center of their attention, and they see, that Armenia avoids, and isn’t able to do it. Georgia somehow did it, Ukraine as well, but other post-Soviet countries are afraid and, in this regard, let’s attach attention to appointment of a very interesting cadre in the post of RA NSS, a cadre grown mostly far from the system. What implications it’ll have and whether it’ll obstacle decrease of external impact on political decisions and processes in Armenia, from this will depend whether Armenia itself will become an object like Ukraine for the USA, or simply, out of other political considerations, the USA will abstain for now.
-If, however, the process comes to Armenia, what implications will it have in Armenia, where all fields are mainly under Russian influence?
It’s a big noise, quite a big one, as, obviously, old and bad traditions still continue—Armenia’s security service isn’t separated from the Soviet KGB system, and, currently—from Russian special service as well. Constant publicizing of scandalous information of this or that person will become a subject of serious inner political upheavals and developments. Of course, publicizing of people’s names up to now resisting adoption of the Law on Lustration is going to become a bomb in domestic policy firmament.
–For those interested in politics it’s clear, who serves this or that special service. This, maybe, will rise a timely noise. What will come next, if we speak of a country like Armenia, where Russia’s influence is out of concurrency? How this change will be implemented if there are no opposing forces?
You seemingly say, we know many of them, No, we don’t. The one we one, will never declare, that he/she serves interests of this or that state. This already becomes a betrayal of motherland, irrespective of the fact, it’s Russia or any other country. Secondly, we don’t know who and why influenced on making this or that deal/resolution. They may be rather varying economic tools and if after investigations it becomes clear, that these deals simply were concluded, as decision-makers were representatives of Russian special service, this will become a case of crime. That’s why I again repeat, that we don’t completely realize volumes of that explosion. Economic, political and military discussions will be held. And, you don’t know from top to bottom who assumed this or that role in all these, who hammered out that deal and how. Accordingly, I don’t share the opinion, that we know all of them. Possibly, we don’t even suspect people, who are really in. Up to now, if they said Ukraine, it means, the USA is concerned of Ukraine’s issue and, it’s not accidental, as confrontation won’t fade there, resolutions aren’t observed and, in this regard, Ukraine’s settlement is a priority, thus, an attempt is made to cut the umbilical cord in Ukraine. It’s difficult to say whether decision will be made to do the same with Armenia and Azerbaijan. I want to attach attention to the fact, that change of heads of special services both in Armenia and Azerbaijan was recorded, and seemingly, we dealt with evolution change in Armenia, and a revolution one in Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan all the reasons weren’t clear as well, of course, issues mainly were linked to Ilham Aliyev and his regime, but by which aspects and manifestations? We only know what was published by authorities, and nothing more. Finally, I’ll never forget Richard Morningstar’s remarkable interview, where he was explicitly speaking of people inside authorities serving interests of other countries, mentioned Ramil Mehtiyev’s and etc. There are answers to the questions we don’t know. In this regard Azerbaijan’s condition may be highly interesting.
By Araks Martirosyan
