After reading the official statements on the content of the Pashinyan–Putin phone call, a significant part of Armenian society concluded with certainty that Putin had issued an ultimatum to Nikol Pashinyan, insisting that the question of European Union membership be put to a referendum as soon as possible.
But the point is that Putin and various senior Russian officials have been emphasizing this issue for at least three months. Has the ultimatum really been issued continuously for three months? If an “ultimatum” has been repeated for at least three months, it may be many things—but a genuine ultimatum is not one of them. After all, an ultimatum, especially when issued by a nuclear power, is probably delivered once, or at most twice, and stated very clearly, with specific deadlines and an understanding of the consequences—not repeated for three months.
Moreover, Pashinyan has also been saying for three months that he will hold a referendum—but only when he believes the time has come. And if this has been going on for months, then “ping-pong” is a far more fitting description than talk of an ultimatum.
The real question is what is happening beneath the “ping-pong” table. Do you remember the old Soviet cartoon about the inventive frog? While his friends were playing checkers, sunflower seeds were being cracked beneath the board.
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Now Nikol Pashinyan and Putin are playing “ping-pong,” but what is being “cracked” under the table remains unclear. The European Union is probably trying to understand that as well. Its senior officials speak freely and relentlessly about virtually anything related to Armenia, yet remain silent on the issue of this referendum.
Despite making noticeable progress in strengthening its position in Armenia, the EU may nevertheless have doubts and suspicions about where Putin and Pashinyan intend to “take it for a ride.” The EU apparently has begun to suspect that its progress is coming too easily.
Hakob BADALYAN
