Post-election Russia in Armenian media

Elections to the State Duma caused a lively reaction in Armenia. On the one hand, Moscow is a strategic partner of Yerevan, and the stability of the current Russian authorities influences the situation in Armenia. On the other hand, Armenia is entering an election campaign period and the tendencies observed in Moscow in December could appear in this South Caucasian country. Moreover, the Armenian opposition has much a more uncompromising attitude than Parfenov, Akunin and Navalny. Ter-Petrosyan has great experience in conducting protest demonstrations.

Armenian prime-minister Tigran Sarkisyan reacted to the reports on the Moscow demonstrations loyally: “I think we should treat it naturally, as we are facing such problems as well. Often, despite the way elections are organized, many people state that the results are fabricated,” the prime minister said.

The leader of the Armenian diaspora in Russia, Ara Abramyan, took a similar position, as he traditionally supports any initiatives by the Kremlin.

At the same time, the well-known periodical Lragir stated in one of its articles: “It is understood that many Russain Armenians would like to eradicate lawlessness and protection rackets and provide comfortable conditions for living business. But they will support the opposition movement in Russia only if they are sure that these tendencies won’t turn against them. At the moment the Russian authorities accuse West of promoting the mood of opposition in Russia, but several participations of ethnic communities in demonstrations will flip the script to them.”

The same article says that one more threat for Armenia is that in the current State Duma only one Armenian has been elected, Oganes Oganyan, a deputy of the party A Just Russia. In previous Dumas there were 3-5 Armenian deputies.

Another author, Ruben Margaryan, is interested in the reasons for the speedy growth of Navalny’s popularity: how can an individual man do more than major parties? He thinks that the “systematic” opposition is fed by the authorities at times. The expert is sceptical about comparing the Armenian and Russian oppositions: “The leaders of the opposition parties know it quite well, but say beautiful words about the necessity of fighting corruption and so on.”

Most Armenian experts consider the leaders of demonstrations as the real authorities, while the parliamentary opposition is considered to be unable to influence the reforming process. They say that there are many more similar features than differences between the Armenian and Russian oppositions.

To be continued.

Alexei Vlasov, exclusively to VK