Russia is not satisfied with Russian resources available in Armenia

On August 11, in another edition of “The time will show” programme on Channel One Russia some Russian experts, when discussing Russian-Turkish relations, mentioned Armenia as well and spread misinformation during the live broadcast on the federal TV channel.

«Armenia is the same as Ukraine. The same situation exists there. They work with oligarchs, and they do not work with society. We have no pro-Russian resources, no pro-Russian politician in Armenia. We have lost all. We have the same picture as in Ukraine and we are on the verge of failure in this situation», says orientalist, politician Karine Gevorgyan [41’25’’]. It should be noted that  by saying «we» Gevorgyan means Russia, she is the citizen of that country and, according to her, she protects its interests.

Speaking about falling of Russia’s rating in Armenia the politician accuses of it some foundations and politicians acting in Armenia, who, after normalization of Russian-Turkish relations, started to say «here is our ally, it is with Turkey».

Example of «Big brother»

In response to this statement by Gevorgyan another Russian politician, member of the RF governing party «United Russia» and a proxy of RF president Vladimir Putin Sergey Markov on behalf of Russia calls for closure of such foundations in Armenia.

«Let them close the foundations. I ask on behalf of Russia: Armenia is our ally, why do dozens, hundreds of anti-Russian funds exist there?», shouts Markov once again urging to close them; after that the statement of the host is heard, who justifies the presented issue with the existence of «democracy in Armenia».

Russia, on whose behalf the member of the ruling party speaks, this way once again urges Armenia to follow its example of restricting democracy.  Earlier such a proposal was made by the director of EAEC Institute Vladimir Lepekhin. Let us recall that Russia already has similar experience.

Since 2012 there is a law on «foreign agents» in RF, and in May 2015 Vladimir Putin signed the law on criminal and civil liability of international and foreign «unwanted» NGOs in RF, after which dozens of NGOs appeared in the list of those organizations. RF considered this action as violation of human rights.

More «harshness»

Not content with the calls sounded on Channel One Russia, several days later Sergey Markov gave an interview to Russian-language news agency «Vestnik Kavkaza» on the same topic declaring that Russia should be more attentive to NGOs operating in Armenia.

«It has been a long time since we have been witnessing the unsatisfactory harshness of Armenian authorities towards suppressing the financing of anti-Russian propaganda. And they themselves create a basis for anti-Russian politics by making famous such accomplices of nationalism as Garegin Nzhdeh”, the Russian official said.

As for the statement of politician Karine Gevorgyan sounded during live broadcast on Russian federal television, it is important to emphasize that according to Armenian media, she is a member of the Griboyedov Club, established in Yerevan and financed by Dmitry Kiselyov, one of the most prominent figures of Russian propaganda. The Armenian service of Sputnik agency, under the same Kiselyov’s leadership, is one of many Russian-funded media outlets in Armenia.

Russian financing of a number of other organizations operating in Armenia is also known. And the most serious Russian resource in Armenia, of course, is the oligarchs, about working with whom the politician said in her speech. Therefore, speaking about the lack of Russian resources in Armenia is the evident dissemination of misinformation.