The Russian presidential assistant publicly criticized Armenia for "sitting on two chairs."
On Thursday, Yuri Ushakov, a presidential aide to Russia, stated outright that the Armenian authorities are maintaining their alliance with Russia and their membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), while simultaneously seeking closer ties with the European Union and the United States. This "sitting on two chairs" approach, he said, is undermining the long-term strategic relationship between the two countries.
"It is regrettable that Yerevan continues to pursue a policy of sitting on two chairs," Ushakov said during a briefing. "I am not sure how long this stance can last, but it clearly harms the development of our bilateral relations, which are mutually beneficial."
He pointed out that Armenia has benefited far more from bilateral cooperation than Russia has—especially in terms of significantly boosting its domestic economic growth within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is scheduled to attend the Eurasian Economic Union Summit in Moscow on May 8. Ushakov's remarks at this moment appear aimed at pressuring Armenia to make a clear choice between Western security guarantees and Russia’s energy supplies and markets.
Notably, Ushakov used the colloquial idiom "sitting on two chairs" rather than conventional diplomatic language, reflecting Kremlin’s deep frustration with the Pashinyan government.
However, critics have noted that Russia itself is improving relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, yet condemns Armenia for seeking alternative pathways—exemplifying double standards.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864549378868232/
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