Protests in Armenia have two components: objective and external

The protest movement in Armenia has two components: objective and artificial, external, associated with Russia. This opinion was expressed in an interview with the opposition Russian TV channel Dozhd by Stepan Grigoryan, director of the Armenian Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation.

According to him, of course, there are objective reasons for dissatisfaction with government policies. " Any process of demarcation, delimitation, especially with a country with which you were recently at war, is certainly painful. There are other problems that lead to discontent. It is impossible to exclude these objective reasons in the protest movement, but there are also artificial reasons, where pro-Russian forces play a large role, forces that are under the influence of Russia. Therefore, there is an artificial external component here, when Russia stimulates pro-Russian forces, or the "fifth column" in Armenia. Therefore, these protests have these two components - objective discontent and artificially escalating the situation, but I will not say that they are dangerous for the authorities," Grigoryan emphasized.

Answering a question about the figure of the protest leader, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the political scientist noted that this is a fundamental question. "The fact is that the main opposition forces, although there are many of them, there are different groups in the opposition, both small and medium-sized, and various public figures, scientists, know that the main engine of the movement is two former Armenian presidents, that is, "former authorities". But since they are unpopular, it seems to me that a decision was made to put forward such a figure - one of the spiritual leaders of the Armenian Church. And this person will look more neutral. Even if Bagrat Galstanyan himself does not realize it, he was nominated by Russian groups," the political scientist noted.

Grigoryan agreed that today a lot of things are being done similar to what Pashinyan did. "Just as Pashinyan walked from Gyumri to Yerevan in 2018, so Galstanyan from the village of Kirants headed to the capital. Blocking roads, highways, all these are the same methods. I would say that this is an imitation of revolution. An attempt to show that since Pashinyan had the right, then we also have the right," Grigoryan said, noting that in essence these are different situations, since the former government was not legitimate, it was not elected by the people, and the current government is certainly legitimate , although it can and should be criticized. "They, repeating what Nikol Pashinyan did, think that they can win this way. But everyone understands what exactly is behind it. Everyone understands that the external influence on these processes is very large," Grigoryan noted.

Answering the question, what is the meaning and task of the Kremlin in supporting this movement, is it revenge on Pashinyan for his position on the CSTO, or all because of the signature on the Rome Statute, or revenge for the independent position that he shows, for example, his refusal to participate in the summit of CIS leaders, the political scientist noted that, of course, the Kremlin does not like the steps, more or less independent, from Pashinyan. "But it seems to me that their main dislike for Pashinyan is due to the fact that he was elected by the people, and for the Kremlin this is unacceptable. The Kremlin needs people under its influence, the puppet type. This is the essence of any authoritarian regimes. Moreover, if we are talking about big players who do not want to see partners around, but want to see puppets who will turn Armenia into a part of Russia, a Russian province," Grigoryan believes.

The political scientist noted that there is no need to talk about Pashinyan's resignation: "Resignation is far away, but I have always said and am telling our government: if you do not take clear steps towards European integration, towards finding new allies, this protest movement will complicate your life ."