The next victim of Russia in Eastern Europe will be Latvia. Recently, such prediction was made by the MEP and former Vice-President Jacek Saryusz-Wolski.
Drawing parallels between some events that took place in Crimea and similar phenomena happened in Latvia, he noted in particular that it is a broader restoration of the Russian Empire. The MEP noted that although Ukraine will be the core object of Russia’s aggression, under the pretext of protecting the rights of the Russian minority, Russia may also attach other neighboring countries to restore the Russian Empire with the USSR borders.
“What they are talking about is a media war – Russia-West, said the military expert and former Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan, in the interview with Aravot.am, referring to the MEP’s projection. To our observation that a number of politicians considered the Customs Union a return to the USSR, Mr. Harutyunyan said, “It is the same in Armenia, people say that the Customs Union is restoration of the Soviet Union, while Hillary Clinton and others have said that they will not allow it. Let’s understand why they will not allow, let’s say that in those times the West was against the Communist ideology, well, we understood, but now there is no communist ideology, now it is the same capitalist system and wilder. In other words, the problem is not with the ideology, the matter is geopolitical until such a strong Russia exists, and Russia is the only country, which is capable of fight against the U.S. with its economic and military potential, and the West should take these areas. When the Soviet Union agreed on Germany to unite, they verbally announced that NATO would not be expanded, and Gorbachev believed, but NATO expanded up to Latvia and Ukraine. Maidan commenced when Ukraine refused to sign the EU Association Agreement, and Europe and America came to start Maidan with arms and with everything, the same as they do in Syria. Russia realized that it would lose the Crimea, and the Crimea is very important for Russia, also for Armenia, Putin had to enter, and took the Crimea.” As observed by Mr. Harutyunyan, entering into war is not even beneficial to Russia, Putin wants to restore his country’s economy. “Here is the answer: who attacked the Soviet Union, Germany, who started the World War I in 1914, Russia, no. Why is the West moving ahead, Russia does not need it, its land and resources are sufficient to it, its task is to ensure its security. Whereas the West needs raw materials, energy and other, the West does not have it, therefore it must proceed with such revolutions. Now, Ukraine will lose its raw materials, and it will go free to the West. For what? For the freedom of expression. And what kind of freedom of expression? We’ll see. See, how many months have passed, the West has not given a dollar to Ukraine, it does not support, Russia, which does not recognize the new government in Ukraine, has given a few billion, and is not taking the amount for gas.” To our clarifying question of whether there is a risk that Russia will restore unification of these territories not by USSR ideology, but the USSR borders, Mr. Harutyunyan said, “The USSR will not come back.”
To our observation that a number of politicians and political analysts think that by accession to the Customs Union, Armenia will lose its sovereignty and be subjugated to the Kremlin, the former Minister said, “Now Armenia would dream of such a thing that everything would come from the Kremlin free. Such opinions are demagogy. Freedom and independence are at least ensuring the minimum of the economy, if it’s not available, if your security is not ensured, then you cannot be independent. Today, Russia ensures Armenia’s independence, with military strength and economic support. When we enter the European Union, our laws are checked, aren’t they? They check everything, and we are not saying that we are losing the independence. The EU countries are conceding a part of their powers, in exchange for getting some things. No one is suggesting us to become a member of the European Union, and the EU Association Agreement was not going to give us anything, in terms of economy and military.” As observed by Vagharshak Harutyunyan whether the accession to the Customs Union is correct or not, the most accurate answer is that all Armenia’s presidents, each at its own portion, has deepened the Armenian-Russian relations. “Because people come to power, see where Armenia is, and begin conducting a real policy.”
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Nelly Babayan
