In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Armenia has accused Russia of orchestrating a plot to overthrow its government. The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, in a statement released on Wednesday, alleged that Russia has been training and funding a group of insurgents with the specific goal of seizing power in Armenia.
The Armenian authorities have charged seven individuals with preparing to usurp power through violence and threats. Six of these individuals, all Armenian citizens, were allegedly recruited by Russia and sent for a three-month training program at the “Arbat military base” in Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia. These recruits reportedly received monthly salaries of 220,000 rubles ($2,377) and underwent thorough background checks and polygraph tests before being dispatched for the alleged operation.
The accusations against Russia come amid a significant deterioration in relations between the two countries. Armenia, once a close ally of Russia, has expressed its disapproval of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This dissent led Armenia to freeze its membership in the Moscow-led CSTO military alliance, sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine and even participating in joint military exercises with US forces.
In a further blow to their relationship, Armenia asked Russian border guards, stationed in the country since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, to withdraw earlier this year. This move follows a statement last September by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who criticized Russia’s peacekeeping mission in Azerbaijan’s breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, saying it had “failed to do its job” during a recent Azerbaijani offensive.
The latest accusations have solidified Armenia’s shift towards the West. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that Armenia would not miss the opportunity to become a full member of the European Union if such an opportunity arose.
The Russian government has not yet responded to these serious allegations from Armenia. The international community is watching closely as tensions between Armenia and Russia reach a new peak. The situation raises serious concerns about the potential for further instability in the region and highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the post-Soviet space.
