Liga.net
May 6 2026
“Only Russia’s defeat”. Armenia’s pro-European politician explains Yerevan’s common goals with Kyiv
In a conversation with LIGA.net, Tigran Khzmalyan emphasized that geopolitically Armenia will break away from Russia if it loses to Ukraine
Ihor Tymots
correspondent of LIGA.net
Yuliia Kuzmenko
News editor at LIGA.net
Armenia is now balancing between influential Russia and attractive Europe, and this will change only when Russia loses politically in the war with Ukraine. This was stated by the Chairman of the European Party of Armenia Tigran Khzmalyan in comments for analysis on LIGA.net.
WHY IT MATTERS
For the first time in decades, Armenia is looking to the West, disillusioned with Russia’s protection. Last year, the country adopted a law on joining the European Union, and recently the capital Yerevan hosted the summit of the European Political Community. Read in the article LIGA.net, how the Armenian future is being decided between Moscow and Europe and what it means for Ukraine.
Russia has several spheres of influence in Armenia, which still forces the current government, led by Prime Minister By Nikol Pashinyan to balance between pandering to Moscow and confident European integration.
First, there is a Russian military base in the southwestern Armenian city of Gyumri. According to Khzmalyan, it was never intended to defend Armenia, only to protect Russian interests in Armenia.
“The Russian base is now so small that it does not pose a serious threat. To our shame and regret, it was one of the sources of threat to Ukraine. Thugs were sent from there to the Ukrainian fronts,” the politician said.
Secondly, Russia owns the Armenian railroad, Armenia’s gas distribution systems, and virtually all copper, molecular and gold mines. Russia controls the supply of fuel for the nuclear power plant. So in this way, it influences the economy, politics and media.
“Russian TV channels broadcast freely in Armenia, spy nests called the House of Russia, the House of Russian Books, the House of Moscow, the Rossotrudnichestvo organization, Compatriots and other branches of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and the Foreign Intelligence Service operate freely in Armenia,” Khzmalyan added.
Finally, Armenia receives gas for domestic use from Russia. The entire small country could have been satisfied with supplies from another neighbor, Iran. But Russia, with the help of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, refused to build a 1.5-meter-diameter pipe that would have allowed the export of Iranian gas, Khzmalyan explained.
Thus, it is difficult for Armenia to break away from these ties. Pro-European political forces understand the importance of Ukraine’s victory for the development of their homeland. The leader of the European Party summarizes: the main geopolitical hope of Armenia, as well as Europe, is the victory of Ukraine and the defeat of Russia. Moreover, the defeat is not only military, but also political, the destruction of the regime of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
on January 9, the Armenian government approved a draft law on starting the process of accession to the European Union.
In January 2025 Armenia signed with the United States a document on strategic partnership.
on April 21, the head of European diplomacy, Kallas saidthe EU will send a new civilian mission to Armenia to counter disinformation.”The Russian base is now so small that it does not pose a serious threat. To our shame and regret, it was one of the sources of threat to Ukraine. Thugs were sent from there to the Ukrainian fronts,” the politician said.
Secondly, Russia owns the Armenian railroad, Armenia’s gas distribution systems, and virtually all copper, molecular and gold mines. Russia controls the supply of fuel for the nuclear power plant. So in this way, it influences the economy, politics and media.
“Russian TV channels broadcast freely in Armenia, spy nests called the House of Russia, the House of Russian Books, the House of Moscow, the Rossotrudnichestvo organization, Compatriots and other branches of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and the Foreign Intelligence Service operate freely in Armenia,” Khzmalyan added.
Finally, Armenia receives gas for domestic use from Russia. The entire small country could have been satisfied with supplies from another neighbor, Iran. But Russia, with the help of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, refused to build a 1.5-meter-diameter pipe that would have allowed the export of Iranian gas, Khzmalyan explained.
Thus, it is difficult for Armenia to break away from these ties. Pro-European political forces understand the importance of Ukraine’s victory for the development of their homeland. The leader of the European Party summarizes: the main geopolitical hope of Armenia, as well as Europe, is the victory of Ukraine and the defeat of Russia. Moreover, the defeat is not only military, but also political, the destruction of the regime of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
on January 9, the Armenian government approved a draft law on starting the process of accession to the European Union.
In January 2025 Armenia signed with the United States a document on strategic partnership.
on April 21, the head of European diplomacy, Kallas saidthe EU will send a new civilian mission to Armenia to counter disinformation.
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