Russia Threatens to Armenia’s Authorities
“Moscow is surprised by erection of the statue to Garegin Nzhdeh, one of the founders of Armenian Legion of the Wehrmacht,” Maria Zakharova, RF MFA official representative said. Hours have passed from that statement, however official response wasn’t heard from Armenia’s leading political party, which adopted Nzhdehism as a slogan—the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA). In particular, reply wasn’t given by the RPA MPs, who are specialized in replying to western ambassadors, when the latter, for instance, state that corruption threatens to Armenia’s security.
They didn’t reflect and state that Russia is interfering with Armenia’s internal affairs by that, moreover, interfering is slightly said; it’s more proper to say it “pokes its nose.” It doesn’t sound nice, however, for this particular case it’s irreplaceable.
After statue to Garegin Nzhdeh was unveiled in Yerevan, Moscow expressed its discontent through its analysts and historians, to which Armenia’s power circles dared to reflect by common formulations only, introducing as justification to the circumstance that it’s not the disposition of separate individuals and not that of official Moscow. So, Moscow says it’s such an official disposition, which is pronounced by the official representative of Russia’s Foreign Minister.
Currently Armenia’s leading political party is at a deadlock: RPA members should either give equal reply to Russia or should withdraw from their party slogans and from Nzhdeh, who is their ideological father.
It’s difficult to say which variant will be chosen by the RPA. They almost have instinctive fear from Russia, however, on the other hand, they can’t abandon Nzhdeh as well. Or maybe they can for the benefit of “Armenia-Russia age-old friendship.”
However, this is an issue referring to authority of the state, when other country, let it even be a strategic ally, let it be as big and incomprehensible as Russia, expresses itself in such a way. If Armenia didn’t give proper reflection to this statement, it means, tomorrow Zakharova will state what surprises her in our manuals or museums.
Then she may dislike any of the colors of our flag or name of the Republic Square. This statement, however, is one of those single cases, when interests of RPA and the Republic of Armenia coincide, although likewise attitude of Russians is a result of RPA functioning.
Through Zakharova Russia expresses its discontent for actions of Armenia’s authorities directed to defend Armenia’s interests and sovereignty. Garegin Nzhdeh is embodiment and ideal of RPA ideology. Accordingly, by expressing her surprise Zakharova passes Putin’s surprise that in Armenia authorities belong to the political party, which considers itself Nzhdeh’s follower. In other words, Putin indirectly threatens RPA.
On account of that circumstance, it shouldn’t be excluded that strict reflections may be heard from Armenia. The authorities showed that they can tolerate threats directed to the country, however, when it refers power maintenance, it become an issue of death or life. We’ll wait impatiently for Eduard Sharmazanov’s reflection if, of course, his historical-political courage isn’t planned for replying to Aliyev.
Robert Ter-Sargsyan
