Russian MP comments on employment of U.S. officer by Armenia`s  defense minister 

ArmInfo.The appointment of a US Army representative to work in the Armenian Ministry of Defense is  a consistent step by Yerevan to sever ties with Moscow. This opinion was expressed by the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Konstantin Zatulin.

"What was hitherto secret is becoming clear. I am sure that even  before this statement, the Pashinyan government was leaking  everything related to military cooperation with Russia to its new  partners in the West. Now there is no need to hide it, and this is  precisely what is connected with the emergence of the official  representative in the Ministry of Defense. The threat to Russia is  that the current Pashinyan government is making active efforts to  reshape the consciousness of Armenian citizens and make them believe  that the West will help them, and Russia is their enemy. Although  this is not stated directly. current coordination with the Americans  and the West in the military field, then within the framework of this  treacherous course, these are quite understandable consistent steps  to sever ties with Russia, the post-Soviet space and to come under  the wing of the West," he said in an interview with Gazeta.Ru.

Zatulin believes that Russia should draw "deep conclusions" in  connection with Armenia's decision.  According to him, Moscow may  warn that it will condemn the repression of protesters against the  Pashinyan government.

"Armenia is now at a crossroads. Although Pashinyan retains the  possibility of a parliamentary majority until 2026, we know about  those protest movements in Armenia. For our part, [we can] firmly  warn that the desire to sit on bayonets and repress protesters will  be condemned by us and will have consequences in our relations. This  is much more important than simply reacting with words to the next  sneeze of the Armenian leadership," he explained.

Zatulin believes that the Armenian leadership may raise the issue of  the Russian 102nd military base, located in Gyumri and Yerevan. "I am  sure that at a certain stage the leadership of Armenia, if it feels  the drive and lack of reaction to everything previous, will  definitely raise this question. There is not even a doubt about this,  because Mr. Pashinyan, without being any prime minister, throughout  his entire public career opposed our base in Armenia, membership in  the CSTO, and so on. Part of his course has already become the  official line of the Armenian government. The same applies to the  base," he concluded.

Prior to this, the United States Under Secretary of State for Civil  Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya confirmed information  about the appointment of a representative of the US Army to work in  the Armenian Ministry of Defense. The politician called this decision  a "welcome process."

Previously, Pashinyan stated that Armenia is ready to raise the level  of relations with the United States to a strategic partnership  between Washington and Yerevan.