Russia Blames Pashinyan’s Shift to West for Defeat

MOSCOW (KI) – Russia has upbraided Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for trying to shift the blame for his failures on Moscow, saying his submission to Western pressure was behind the “severe” defeat in Karabakh.

The censure by the Russian foreign ministry came after Pashinyan said the current foreign security systems of his country, which is a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), are “ineffective” after Azerbaijan’s victory in the decades-old conflict over Karabakh.
Pashinyan has said Russia had failed Armenia by not providing more assistance to his country.
The Russian foreign ministry dismissed statements as “unacceptable”, saying that the defeat came as Pashinyan “succumbed to Western influence.”
Pashinyan had “shied away from working in rhythm with Russia and Azerbaijan and instead had run to the West” to resolve the Karabakh crisis, the ministry said.
Baku took full control of the breakaway region last week following a 24-hour military operation against pro-Armenian forces. Azerbaijan cited “systematic” shelling, “reconnaissance activities,” fortification of defensive positions, and “high-level of combat readiness” by Armenian-backed troops for its operation.
“Had Nikol Pashinyan agreed to a ceasefire a few weeks earlier, the defeat would have been less severe,” the Russian ministry said.
Moscow also said Pashinyan’s remarks about transforming security alliances indicate that he is preparing to pivot away from Armenia’s alliance with Moscow towards the West.
“We are convinced that the Yerevan leadership is making a massive mistake by deliberately trying to destroy Armenia’s multi-faceted and centuries-old ties with Russia while making the country hostage to the geopolitical games of the West.”
The statement also refuted claims that Moscow was behind the anti-government protests in Yerevan, stressing that “the reckless approach by Nikol Pashinyan’s team” was to blame for the discontent among Armenians.
Azerbaijan’s operation on September 19 to seize control of the territory following two mine explosions which killed six people forced the separatists to lay down their arms under the terms of a ceasefire agreed the following day.
The separatists have said 200 people were killed in last week’s fighting.
On Tuesday, at least 13,550 of ethnic Armenians living in Karabakh arrived in Armenia on the first day of the exodus, news agencies said.
Authorities in Kandandi said at least 20 people were killed and 290 injured in a massive blaze when a fuel storage facility blew up on Monday.
Envoys from Baku and Yerevan were in Brussels on Tuesday to pave the way for the first meeting between their leaders since last week’s offensive on October 5.