Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, founder of “Rodina” nationalist party, Dmitry Rogozin, on the occasion of Russia’s day, called for a restoration of the Soviet Union, “collecting the stones” that are “scattered over a quarter of a century ago, when the Soviet rock gave its first crack.” “24 years ago, the Soviet rock cracked for the first time. Then, the stones began falling. Who knew at the time that they will keep falling a quarter of a century, but it is time to collect the stones,” wrote Rogozin on his Twitter page.
I am grateful to the Chairman of the Russian-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Commission, Rogozin, for being honest. Usually, Russian officials convince that their integration programs are purely economic, and the people who are talking about the restoration of the Soviet Union, just want to obstruct this mutually beneficial cooperation. Figures like Rogozin reveal the true intentions of the Kremlin.
Let’s leave aside about who likes these intentions and who do not. We’d better think about whether the project is feasible. For example, it seems to me that it is a perfect utopia, no matter whichever side you are looking at, which even is not worth of spending time for discussion. The leadership of Russia is wasting time and forces, by weakening itself and arousing hostility with the West.
But it’s still nothing. The attempts of collecting “stones”, i.e. Soviet republics, are conducted without showing any flexibility, by brutal methods, by the language of coarse blackmail, “you are lost without us”, by insulting the dignity of the residents of those states. Apparently, it seems to the people sitting in the Kremlin that this is the very way for the former Soviet nations to get close to Russia.
Read also
One should not be a great psychologist or a political scientist to understand that it causes the exact opposite feelings. I do not know how it is in the rest of the states, but in Armenia, for sure. I feel it myself. I was seeing myself too far from nationalism. But, in this past year, since the “story of the rob”, I feel how the internal revolt is rising in me. When the Kremlin emissaries, the diplomats, officials, and political scientist express about my country and the people with contempt; when they wag their finger at us, you know, if not us, the Turkey would destroy you; when they come in here and display what it is called in their language хамство(ill-mannered), I feel anxiety for Armenia’s sovereignty, our culture, and language, and a desire to protect them from any inroad.
Thus, the stones are thrown out far and away.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
