Russia is not among the countries that operate through the logic of “soft power”; this mechanism is generally uncharacteristic of Russian political culture. This statement was made by political strategist Vigen Hakobyan, commenting on the recent remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to him, many in Russia believe that their “soft power” is, in fact, their armed forces. Therefore, when Putin speaks of a “civilized divorce,” Hakobyan believes this raises serious concerns.
“I think a serious choice is being presented here, and whether the consequences will be ‘soft and civilized’ is a big question,” he noted, emphasizing that Putin spoke not only about a “civilized divorce” but also about its potential consequences in the spheres of economy, security, and foreign policy.
Hakobyan also pointed out the parallels Putin drew with Ukraine. According to the strategist, the Russian president hinted that “in Ukraine, it all started exactly like this,” and reminded of how that process ended.
“It was a hint, I think—even more than a hint,” he said, adding that “Russia and a civilized divorce, Russia and soft power are fundamentally incompatible” because it is “not their trump card.”
In the strategist’s assessment, Putin is currently communicating less with the Armenian authorities and more with the Armenian people. He noted that Russia constantly emphasizes: if such is the decision of the Armenian people, they will take it into account.
At the same time, according to Hakobyan, the policy of the current Armenian authorities does not fit into any clear logic—not only for Russia but also for Europe and the US.
“The level of trust is zero, and every center of power is trying to extract situational benefits from the incompetence and irresponsibility of the current government,” he noted.
Commenting on Putin’s idea of an “early referendum,” Hakobyan stated that this effectively refers to the June 7 elections, which, in his opinion, hold the significance of a referendum for Russia.
According to him, Moscow views these elections as a choice between geopolitical vectors. If the people choose the current government again, it will serve as an answer for Russia to the questions of “what Armenia represents” and “how to behave toward Armenia—with soft pressure or without it.”