Russia has warned Armenia not to ally with the West, expressing fears that Yerevan could go down a path similar to Ukraine's after the overthrow of pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday that while Armenia is free to choose its political direction, Moscow wants to avoid a repeat of the geopolitical shift seen in Ukraine.
In response to Yanukovych's ouster in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and supported the occupation of parts of the Donbass by pro-Moscow forces. More than two years ago, Russia began its full-scale war against Ukraine.
Russia has long been perceived as the protector of Armenia. Recently, however, relations have cooled as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan steers his country toward the West.
As a result, Russia remained indifferent to the seizure by Azerbaijani troops of the disputed conflict region of Nagorno-Karabakh, DPA noted.
However, Peskov emphasized that Russia still considers Armenia an ally and wants to continue cooperation with the country.