ArmInfo. Moscow hopes that the new leadership of Armenia will find the courage to resist blackmail and pressure from the US, will make decisions independently, Secretary of State Grigory Karasin said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
In October, John Bolton, Adviser to the President of the United States on National Security Affairs, visited Yerevan. In his speech to reporters, he, commenting on the conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh, noted that the American "weapon is in any case better than the Russian." Bolton also advised Yerevan to "get rid of historical cliches" in its international relations.
"Against the background of the radical changes taking place in the country this year, Washington's interference in its domestic and foreign affairs is becoming more and more unceremonious," Karasin said.
According to the diplomat, Bolton insultingly called the historical experience of the Armenian people "historical cliches", and also ordered Armenia to buy American weapons and join the anti-Iran sanctions as soon as possible. "If this is the public side of the US-Armenian relations, then we can only imagine what kind of" arm-twisting "takes place behind the scenes," Karasin noted.
"We hope that the current leadership of Armenia, which received the necessary mandate at the parliamentary elections, will find the courage to resist outright external blackmail and pressure, will defend the sovereign right to make decisions independently, consistent with national interests," the Deputy Foreign Minister said.
On December 9, Armenia held early elections to the National Assembly. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's "My Step" bloc won 70.45% of the vote, and the former ruling Republican Party did not overcome the passing barrier.