When a few days ago absurd publications appeared on the internet about who of the public figures and media are “American agents”, I was thinking whether to address this issue or not. Eventually, I chose the second option, those delations were “copied” in a weak and unprofessional way. Some of my colleagues expressed an opinion that they are backed by the Russian Federal Security Service. However, it seemed to me that there are still professionals left in this agency who if receiving such an assignment would think of clarifying some facts and would make the delations of this content a little bit more “sensible.” Rather say, I was thinking that it is expected of Armenians’ Russia “figures” who communicate nearby the Kremlin at the level of the 6th Secretary of the 5th Assistant of Putin and have decided to display themselves in this way as “powerful propagandists.”
But the incident that took place recently with the Director of the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation, Stepan Grigoryan, allows assuming that the publications about the “American agents” are instructed if not by FSB then at least by official circles. Apparently, there are people in Russia who have decided seriously to deal with the “agents”. The politician was not allowed to have an access to Russia. The notice given to him on the border cited the Federal Law on the Procedures for entering the Russian Federation. Since Grigoryan was not provided with the details about the specific article of this document, it is assumed that the problem is as follows: according to paragraph 9 of Article 26, the entry of foreign citizens to this country shall not be allowed if they are cooperating with international organizations non grata in the territory of Russia.
Hence, a citizen of a foreign state (not Russia) communicates or cooperates with some international organizations and political circles whose posture is disliked by Russian authorities. Or, let’s assume that he delivers speeches against the EaEU or CSTO. The logic requires explaining why this citizen represents a danger for Russia. Otherwise, it looks like a great-power impertinence and demonstrative revenge with a huge portion of paranoia.
I do not know, maybe I too when sometimes write things not pleasing to the Russian authorities would appear in the “black list” of persona non grata, and my entry to Russia is also banned. It would be very pity because I like the country of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky, and Prokofiev. Irrespective of the fact that the authorities of this country, to put it mildly, have an “age-old tradition” of doing foolish things.
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Aram ABRAHAMYAN
