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Armenia and Russia have traditionally had a close relationship. For the small country in the Caucasus, Russia has been a guarantor of security. They have a particularly difficult relationship with neighboring Azerbaijan, partly due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. There is also a strained relationship with Turkey. The Armenian genocide has not been forgotten by Armenians. This was a genocide committed by Turkey in the period 1915-17. read my blog about the genocide. Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan and direct participation when Azerbaijan took control of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2021-23 only reinforces the bad relationship with Turkey. Russia’s lack of support for Armenia during this conflict caused many Armenians to turn their backs on Russia. The Russian guarantee was of little value. Armenia is now turning west and has entered into talks with the EU. This is not accepted by Putin.

Close ties to Russia

Armenia has long been dependent on Russia for security reasons. But Russia’s ability or willingness to defend Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict makes Russia’s guarantee highly questionable. More and more people believe that Russia has its own interests at heart and that good relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan are more important to Russia than relations with Armenia.

Religious and cultural ties

In Armenia, 98% of the population is a member of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Armenia was the very first state in the world to make Christianity the official religion of the state. The Armenian Apostolic Church was founded some time after this in 301.

Armenia is a small Christian oasis between Muslim countries in the South Caucasus. Russia is one of the few neighboring countries that is also Christian. Considering what Armenians experienced during the Armenian Genocide, it’s easy to understand why the country feels threatened by its Muslim neighbors.

The country has its own language, which is spoken as a first language by most people. The time when Armenia was part of the Soviet Union has meant that many people in Armenia have Russian as their second language. The time in the Soviet Union has also meant that there is a certain cultural similarity. Language and, to some extent, shared history help to underpin these ties.

Political and military ties between Russia and Armenia

The ties between the countries are close and my blog has told about the main reasons. Armenia is a member of CSTO. This is a defense alliance that is a kind of poor copy of NATO. Like NATO, this alliance also has an article stating that aggression against one state in the alliance is an aggression against all. During the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia triggered the Treaty of Protection. Russia sent some observers to the border areas, that’s all that was done at the time. In practice, the organization is completely dependent on Russia and Russian policy. Russia has several bases in the member states, including in Armenia. Russia is the major military and political player in the alliance. In addition to Russia and Armenia, the alliance consists of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. It should be noted that in 2024 Armenia temporarily froze its membership in the alliance in protest against the lack of help in the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Russia’s influence in the South Caucasus is increasingly weak. Georgia wants closer cooperation with the EU. Azerbaijan pursues a pragmatic foreign policy that does not always support Russia’s views. For example, Azerbaijan has provided humanitarian support to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale war. The country has recognized Ukraine’s borders and has not recognized Lugansk and Donetsk as separate countries or parts of Russian territory.

Russia is losing political control over the South Caucasus. After Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the Russian military presence has also been weakened.

Economy and trade

Russia is Armenia’s most important trading partner. At the same time, the country is trying to reduce its dependence on Russia and is therefore looking west towards Europe. The EU is now an increasingly important trading partner for Armenia. Especially when it comes to the country’s dependence on Russian oil and gas, there is a shift. The country is seeking more cooperation with the Gulf States for oil and gas imports. The country is also investing heavily in new renewable energy.

On the other hand, Armenia exports food, metals, industrial goods and alcohol to Russia. There are also many Armenians working in Russia. This export of labor is important for the economy of Armenia.

Armenia and the future

The small country in the South Caucasus is looking to the future. Large parts of the population have little faith in protection from Moscow. Especially among the young. Putin recently said that Armenia should hold a referendum on which direction the country wants to go in. If not, he strongly suggests that a Russian response could be a military one.

In other words, Putin is threatening the small country by using his military strength to keep the South Caucasus in his sphere. It is clear that Putin is interfering in the politics of an independent nation by using pressure and threats.

Sources:

Wikipedia: Armenian Apostolic Church

Wikipedia: Collective Security Treaty Organization

B.T.: Putin threatens: Ready to take another country (Danish)

EURACTIV: Putin says Armenia EU membership referendum would be ‘logical’

News AZ: Russian official blasts Armenia over Zelensky’s ‘repulsive’ remarks, defends regional role