Russian political scientist: Pashinyan's time is running out - COMMENT

"It is tough to understand the actions of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently. The leaders of states, who do not intend to provoke an escalation of the conflict in the occupied territories, would go to the "inauguration" of individual leaders of unrecognized territories."

Russian political analyst Yevgeny Mikhailov told Report commenting on Pashinyan's aim to attend so-called "inauguration" of the head of the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh, Araik Harutyunyan.

"I believe that Nikol Pashinyan is trying to take root in power, to calm the Karabakh clan, who knows that the politicians who came after Pashinyan is going to confront Russia has increased the rhetoric on de-occupation of Azerbaijani regions. Pashinyan's actions do not cause any negative reaction in Baku. It is even ridiculous. Baku already understands who Pashinyan is, and, in my opinion, it should not be perceived as an attempt to cause a conflict between Baku and Yerevan. It has already formed an opinion on the current leadership of Armenia. I think it's all about trying to stay afloat for a while. Pashinyan's time is running out. The people are dissatisfied with the economic downturn, the results of countering the coronavirus, and of course, the sharp cooling of relations between Yerevan and Moscow."

According to the expert, without Moscow, Pashinyan and Armenia itself will lose everything, up to the loss of statehood.

"At a time when we need to focus on a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and when Moscow offers a step-by-step solution to this issue, Pashinyan goes against everything and Moscow's opinion. I don't think Moscow will approve such a step, but apparently, Pashinyan doesn't care anymore. Moscow has long given him a signal that he is wrong in many areas."

"Such actions of Pashinyan do not lead to anything good: "This is the Armenian position that drove it into the corner. On all sides, some neighbors do not understand what to do with this Republic. They offer options for overcoming the crisis, but Armenia believes it is "great and ancient," and can dictate.