Russian military won't pull out of Armenia - pundit - INTERVIEW

15:30 | 21.01.2015
Russian military won't pull out of Armenia - pundit - INTERVIEW

Russian military won't pull out of Armenia - pundit - INTERVIEW

ANN.Az has interviewed Dmitriy Rushchin, an expert on international affairs based in St. Petersburg. Rushchin is also a member of the Union of Journalists of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region.


- Some of your colleagues claim that Valeriy Permyakov, the Russian servicemen who shot and killed six members of the same family in Armenia’s second city of Gyumri, did so on instructions from security services of a third country seeking to destabilize the political situation in Armenia and damage Armenia’s relations with Russia. Do you agree with the view?

 - There are different theories, including the one you mentioned. That theory cannot be ruled out. In any case, this tragedy is being used by pro-Western opposition in Armenia to stir anger.

 - Can the popular protests in Gyumri lead to something serious?

 - I do not think so. Most Armenians realize that Russia is their only ally in the region. The withdrawal of Russian troops from Armenia can seriously complicate the situation in Armenia. And yes, Armenia may lose control over Nagorno-Karabakh in the future. Armenia has always had some anti-Russian forces. This is another matter. In Soviet times, Armenian separatists led by a certain Zatikyan carried out terrorist attacks in Moscow, killing people. They were captured, tried and executed.

- So, you do not think the Russian military will pull out of Armenia, right? Will this incident somehow impact bilateral relations between Armenia and Russia?

- Right, I do not think Russia will withdraw from Armenia. In the short term, this incident will certainly complicate relations between the two countries. But key points of cooperation will not be affected. Unfortunately, it is impossible to be fully insured against tragic incidents like these. The leaders understand that.  If you have a large number of Armenian citizens or ethnic Armenians in Russia and Russian citizens in Armenia, some incidents are possible from time to time. The same applies to citizens from other countries.

- Will Valeriy Permyakov will be tried in Russia or handed over to Armenian law enforcement agencies?

- It is difficult to say at the moment. It is a question to be put to the authorities of the two countries. If found guilty, he will probably face the same punishment in both countries, that’s life in prison.
 
Hamid Hamidov
 
ANN.Az

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