External factors play a significant role in the preservation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s political position, with various geopolitical centers involved in the process. This opinion was expressed by political analyst Hakob Badalyan.
According to him, among external actors, Russia may currently be providing the most tangible support for the continuation of Pashinyan’s rule.
Badalyan argues that the interaction between Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a substantial impact on both Armenia’s political environment and its domestic information space.
The Russian Factor Became Central to Political Messaging
The analyst recalled that for many months one of the government’s main narratives against the opposition was the claim that opposition forces were acting on behalf of Russia and posed a threat to Armenia’s sovereignty.
According to him, this narrative became particularly important after other political tools used by the authorities began losing effectiveness.
These included the familiar “war versus peace” argument as well as the long-standing political divide between former and current leaders.
As those themes weakened, Russia increasingly became the central element of political messaging.
Moscow Also Influenced Domestic Political Dynamics
Badalyan believes that a number of recent statements made by Russian officials were later used by the Armenian government to justify and strengthen its own political positions.
He notes that these statements coincided with periods when the authorities were most actively engaged in information campaigns against the opposition.
“I do not believe for a moment that Russia’s leadership failed to understand the consequences of its actions,” Badalyan stated.
At the same time, he emphasized that political influence is often contradictory and can simultaneously serve the interests of multiple actors.
Major Geopolitical Players Favor the Current Arrangement
According to the analyst, Pashinyan currently enjoys support from virtually all major geopolitical centers.
In his view, this is not the result of personal sympathy but rather a reflection of broader regional interests.
Badalyan argues that major international players prefer manageable and relatively weak political systems across the South Caucasus.
He believes this tendency can be observed not only in Armenia but also in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
The Logic of Preserving Power at Any Cost
According to Badalyan, this trend is especially visible in Armenia.
He argues that the drive to preserve political power has gradually evolved into an approach where maintaining authority becomes the overriding objective regardless of the cost.
In his view, this logic explains many aspects of Armenia’s current domestic and foreign policy landscape.