Nikol Pashinyan is Russia`s principal weapon in Armenia, others are  nothing but playthings - expert 

ArmInfo. Russia's principal weapon in Armenia is the incumbent premier, Nikol Pashinyan. All the others are nothing but playthings, expert in Azerbaijani studies Tatevik Hayrapetyan believes. 

"I am surprised our public has been deceived by the erroneous  argument that Pashinyan is in conflict with Moscow or that Moscow  wants him to be removed. After 2018, many claimed Moscow disliked  Pashinyan and sought to have him removed from power, alleging it to  be the cause of the 2020 war. However, the war only strengthened  Russia's influence, with Nagorno-Karabakh becoming dependent on  Russia as never before," Ms Hayrapetyan said.   

Moscow, which "dislikes" Pashinyan openly supported him prior to the  2021 election. "The reason?  Because the film has not ended yet.  Pashinyan is taking false allegedly anti-Russian steps, criticizing  the peacekeepers. I response, Russia sanctions a new attack on  Artsakh while blaming Pashinyan for all that, with Pashinyan washing  his hands of Artsakh, leaving the Armenian population there in a  difficult situation," Ms Hayrapetyan said. 

The very same "anti-Russian" Pashinyan, a few hours before the  session of the U.S. Security Council, stated that there was no threat  of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh thereby rendering a service to Russia  and, of course, to Azerbaijan and Turkey. "The result is that any  international intervention is unrealistic as the head of state says  'it is all right, do not interfere'. That is one more episode of  Pashinyan's 'pro-Western orientation,'" Ms Hayrapetyan said. 

Syunik is next in turn. "That is why Margarita Simonyan and others of  her ilk, who are disliked in Armenia, are saying, 'take to the  streets!' As a result, sensible people are unwilling to act as  pro-Russian instruments, even in Pashinyan's case. Persons perceived  as pro-Russian ones appear in the arena, and people are unwilling to  follow them. As a result, Pashinyan is left with something," Ms  Hayrapetyan said. 

The same scenario is unfolding once again: Pashinyan's anti-Russian  statements, war and losses. The result Russia is strengthening its  positions. "Whenever people want to remove Pashinyan, the authorities  cry out:  'Do you want to have Russians here?' The answer is: 'No, of  course not!' They have betrayed us, haven't they?' Russia's principal  weapon in Armenia is Nikol Pashinyan. All the others are nothing but  playthings," Ms Hayrapetyan said.