Sharmazanov: A mutually beneficial Armenian-Russian alliance is in  Armenia`s national interests

ArmInfo.A real and mutually beneficial Armenian-Russian alliance is in Armenia's national interests. Eduard Sharmazanov, former Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament and member of the Republican Party (RPA), wrote on his Facebook page.

He was responding to criticism from representatives of the ruling  Civil Contract party. He said that they had considered his speech at  an event dedicated to Armenian-Russian relations at the Public  Chamber of Russia as "denunciations against Armenia." "Whether in  Moscow or Brussels, I have defended and will defend exclusively  Armenia's national interests, unlike supporters of Armenian Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan," Sharmazanov noted. According to him, in  his speech he has touched upon current issues in Armenian-Russian  relations, threats to Armenia's security, the right of  forcibly  displaced Artsakh population to return, the usurpation of Artsakh and  the fate of Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku. 

"I spoke about the existing issues and challenges facing Armenia,  including pointing out the shortcomings of the Russian side. However,   several representatives of the ruling Civil Contract party have  shamelessly interpreted my remarks as 'denunciations against  Armenia.' Therefore, listen carefully: it is you who have acted and  continue to act against Armenia, leading it toward vilayetization. It  is you who recognized Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, you are the ones  who destroyed the once pro-Armenian Armenian-Russian agenda, and you  are doing everything to exclude the Declaration of Independence [from  the Armenian Constitution - ed.]. The last thing I need is for the  group leading Armenia toward Azerbaijanization to give me lessons in  statecraft. What do you  have to do with Armenia?" Sharmazanov asked  rhetorically.

In his opinion, it is foolish to equate the interests of the Civil  Contract party with those of Armenia. The Republican noted in this  regard that his speech was negatively received only by certain  pro-Azerbaijani circles  in Russia and representatives of the ruling  party. "Meanwhile, I believe that a real and mutually beneficial  Armenian-Russian alliance is based on Armenia's national interests,  which you are  far from," Sharmazanov concluded.

It should be noted that on March 16, 2026, a roundtable discussion  titled "Russia-Armenia Public Diplomacy: A Retrospective of Mutual  Cooperation" was held at the Public Chamber of Russia, organized by  the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs.