When the Nikolians claim that Armenia’s independence and sovereignty were strengthened thanks to losing the war, they clearly mean the following: We have been freed from the Artsakh issue, and since that issue was originally created by Russia—placing that burden on us as a means of leverage—our country can now supposedly act entirely freely, without having to take Russia into account.
Let’s set aside the, to put it mildly, highly questionable claim that Artsakh was a burden. Instead, let’s examine the substance of these arguments. Have we truly been “liberated” from Russia? Are we no longer dependent on Russian gas prices? Has the Russian military base been shut down? Have we left the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)? Or are the boasts of the “pro-Western propaganda brigade” supposed to be enough?
As always, words seem to matter more than actions. High-ranking Armenian officials declare that they want to leave the CSTO. The National Assembly merely states that there is a desire to join the EU—fully aware that such a thing will not happen in the foreseeable future.
These are just words. But what actions would truly demonstrate our sovereignty? A sovereign state stands up for the dignity, security, and rights of its citizens and compatriots—including the 150,000 Artsakh Armenians—rather than insulting and slandering them through government propagandists. A sovereign state defends its people who are held hostage and tortured by the enemy. A sovereign state does not amend its constitution at the behest of another power. A sovereign country is capable of protecting its territory from the invasion of a neighboring state.
Read also
That said, let’s be fair: the current government has been remarkably effective in selling the illusion of sovereignty to a significant portion of the population. Even more successfully, the Nikolians have “sold” the fear of war, portraying their opponents as warmongers. Previously, the topic of corruption and plunder was also sold quite well. Reviving the seven-year-old case against Taron Margaryan is merely the inertia of that outdated propaganda. But even that worn-out weapon no longer “fires.”
The reason, it seems to me, is obvious: even to the naked eye, it is clear how cynically and arrogantly those in power today have enriched themselves. They have no idea what awaits them when the power dynamic inevitably shifts.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
