Armenian-Russian relations

Armenian-Russian relations

Armenia	Russia

The relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation are in partnership. Among the former Soviet republics in the Caucasus, Armenia is the most closely tied to Russia, while at the same time it tries to maintain good relations with the Western states.

Immediately after Armenia gained independence, relations with Russia were cool because Armenia wanted to maintain its independence and evade Russian influence. However, Armenia did not succeed in normalizing its relations with Turkey as planned. The first non-communist president of the country Levon Ter-Petrosyan was a leading member of the Karabakh Committee, which heightened tensions around Nagorno-Karabakh . After 1991, due to the lack of an army, Armenian paramilitary units were active in Nagorno-Karabakh, reinforced by Russian special forces with Moscow's tacit approval.

In 1992 the war over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out. The Turkish-Azerbaijani embargo on Armenia forced Armenia to accept the Russian terms of a military treaty: it had to join the Commonwealth of Independent States , allow Russian military bases on its territory and let Russian troops patrol its borders. Thus, Armenia became the only Caucasus country to voluntarily join the CIS and the Collective Security Treaty Organization . Shortly after the signing of this treaty, Azerbaijani President Əbülfəz Elçibəy was overthrown in a coup orchestrated by Russia.

When Russia invaded Chechnya in 1994 and failed to take control of the republic and the pipeline from Azerbaijan to Novorossiysk that ran through Chechnya , Armenia questioned its dependence on Russia.

About 80% of Armenia's energy supply is in Russian hands. The Argel hydropower plant and the Hrasdan thermal power plant were handed over to Russia in 2006 to pay off national debts. Trade between Armenia and Russia has declined sharply since Russia invaded Georgia , and it is possible that Iran will replace Russia as Armenia's most important partner .

In 2012 there were almost 1,380 companies or their branches with Russian capital operating in Armenia. In September 2013, the Armenian government under Serzh Sargsyan decided to join the Russian-led customs union. To do this, the association agreement with the European Union was put on hold.

In September 2015, Russia cut the gas price for Armenia from 189 to 165 US dollars per cubic meter. In 2016, imports from Armenia to Russia grew by 70 percent.

Web links

Commons : Armenian-Russian Relations  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Frederik Coene: The Caucasus: an introduction . 1st edition. Routledge, London 2010, ISBN 978-0-203-87071-6 , pp. 173 .
2. ↑ ^{a b} Claude Moniquet and William Racimora: The Armenia-Iran Relationship - Strategic implication for security in the South Caucasus region . European Strategic Intelligence & Security Center, Brussels 2013, p. 16 ( esisc.org [PDF]).
3. ^ Svante E. Cornell : Azerbaijan since independence . Sharpe, Armonk, NY 2011, ISBN 0-7656-3003-6 , pp. 343 .
4. ^ Svante E. Cornell : Azerbaijan since independence . Sharpe, Armonk, NY 2011, pp. 346 .
5. ↑ Claude Moniquet and William Racimora: The Armenia-Iran Relationship - Strategic implication for security in the South Caucasus region . European Strategic Intelligence & Security Center, Brussels 2013, p. 12 ( esisc.org [PDF]).
6. ↑ Frederik Coene: The Caucasus: an introduction . 1st edition. Routledge, London 2010, ISBN 978-0-203-87071-6 , pp. 174 .
7. ↑ Claude Moniquet and William Racimora: The Armenia-Iran Relationship - Strategic implication for security in the South Caucasus region . European Strategic Intelligence & Security Center, Brussels 2013, p. 11 ( esisc.org [PDF]).
8. ↑ Глазьев С.Ю. / Вашанов В.А: Перспективы интеграционных процессов на постсоветском пространстве . In: Современные производительные силы . 1st edition. Деловой экспресс, Москва 2014, p. 40-41 .
9. ↑ Armenia To Join Russian-Led Customs Union. In: RFE / RL's Armenian Service. September 3, 2013, accessed March 10, 2020 . 
10. ↑ Импорт из Армении в РФ вырос на 70% в 2016 году. January 24, 2017, accessed March 10, 2020 (Russian).