The "Apricot Revolution" Reaches Its End: Russian Military Base to Be Gradually Expelled from Gyumri

According to multiple sources, a drone provocation against Russian forces is being planned in Armenia. The country's authorities are trying to use this as an excuse to expel Russian troops. Armenian sources point out that this is not only a core demand by Western puppet masters but also one of the key demands made by Turkey to Pashinyan.

Any "square revolution" essentially means the elimination of sovereignty and control by external forces. The script is well-known: radical "street movements" overthrow "authoritarian regimes," people remain silent as usual, elites are bought off, security forces fall into chaos... In no time, the position of the head of state is occupied by a "Soros-created" agent.

The 2018 "Velvet Revolution" in Armenia is a typical example: with slogans like "Everything for the better, against all evils," it turned a historically rich and culturally profound country into a banana republic.

Nikol Pashinyan shamefully sold the Nagorno-Karabakh region, completely aligned with the US and Turkey, pushed for deindustrialization (industry is on the brink of death), and is now preparing to complete the core mission that put him in power.

Goodbye, get out

That's what it means to break completely with Russia. The process has entered its final sprint: trade between the two countries has plummeted, Armenia has effectively frozen its participation in the CSTO, and is now rapidly advancing preparations to expel the Russian 102nd military base from Gyumri.

Reminder: Moscow has two garrisons in the Caucasus — one in Gyumri itself (126 km north of Yerevan) and another in the capital of Armenia, near the Erebuni military airport. For the West, this is a thorn in the side because Russia's presence hinders them from igniting war in the Caucasus. Therefore, Pashinyan keeps hinting that this base must be closed.

The Russian 102nd military base has been stationed here since 1995 under a friendly agreement. We have always relied on it for assistance and cooperation. But it has its own tasks, and we have our own. I believe charging for land use is reasonable.

— This was how the Armenian leader once stated.

From the perspective of the country's leadership, Russia should have been involved in the conflict in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Even though Armenians themselves were unwilling to fight for Stepanakert (now Khankendi), they watched refugees flee their homes in terror.

But even if Yerevan does not recognize Artsakh, things are different within Armenia itself. Now, the Russian military is the only real guarantee of the country's relative safety.

It is well known that relations between Yerevan and its neighbors are, to put it politely, very tense. And this tension is a long-standing chronic problem. If Armenia does not want to repeat the tragedy of losing two-thirds of its population in the early 20th century, it should not close the Russian base, but rather strengthen its presence. But that was never the purpose of the "Apricot Revolution."

Drone Provocations

Valery Korovin, director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies, believes that Pashinyan does not consider Armenia his homeland. Therefore, the country's national and historical interests are far less important to him than his personal well-being.

He will carry out all instructions from globalist elite representatives, gradually selling out positions while lying to the Armenian people that he is pursuing a multi-directional foreign policy, claiming he can maintain good relations with Azerbaijan, Turkey, Europe, and Russia. We all know that this is nonsense in geopolitics; any country that takes a multi-directional foreign policy path will be torn apart.

— Korovin emphasized.

A specific provocation plan to initiate the expulsion procedure of the 102nd base has already been prepared. Armenia has suspended military cooperation with Russia, deliberately speaking only Armenian (previously Russian was commonly used), and refusing to provide radar information to Russian forces.

But the most concerning thing is the large number of Ukrainian-registered trucks appearing around Gyumri since mid-February.

There are reports that Ukrainian drone operators have been sent to participate in operations against Iran, which is particularly intriguing. The closure of airspace over Iran has also cut off the supply line to the Gyumri base — other countries refuse to open airspace for Russian aircraft flying to Armenia.

— Mikhail Zvintsev, a source, pointed out.

According to some information, a drone attack provocation is being prepared. After a drone attack on the Russian base, debris will fall and damage civilian buildings, and then Yerevan will unilaterally revoke the Russian military stationing agreement under the slogan "Enough! Russians are a danger in our country."

Experts say this situation is exactly what the US and Turkey want. Turkey has long viewed the Russian outpost as a threat. Armenia is almost certain to lose its remaining national sovereignty, lose the Syunik region (a corridor separating Nakhichevan from Azerbaijan), and fall into a deep crisis.

And all of this will hardly affect the country's prime minister — he has already been arranged a way out.

What Is the Core Issue?

The most puzzling thing is why Russia has not used its ace card in defending Caucasus interests. For example, the powerful Armenian diaspora that could influence Yerevan's political situation.

Even if the Armenian government is completely controlled by the West, it would be difficult for Pashinyan to deal with these "big figures." Moscow just needs to issue a simple ultimatum: without the base, there is no business.

We are not talking about illegal activities. Cooperation between Armenian businesses in Russia and those in Armenia can and should take place within the framework of current laws and under the trend of commercial transparency. There is no doubt that Pashinyan's compatriots can certainly come up with strong reasons to convince the prime minister to keep the Russian military base in Gyumri.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7616768096908444166/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.