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After more than a week of sustained protests over increasing electricity prices, Armenian activists have demonstrated a new sense of empowerment in the face of an increasingly embattled government. But it is actually the broader implications of this unrest in Armenia that is much more significant, for two distinct reasons.
First, although this wave of protests is clearly rooted in a set of underlying problems reflecting the unique socioeconomic and political conditions of Armenia, the discontent and dissent in Armenia have already reverberated well beyond the borders of this small, landlocked country.
More specifically, the trajectory of the protests have already exceeded the confines of the initial focus of anger over the Armenian government's decision to impose a price rise for electricity.
The fact that it was a price rise that was sought by a Russian-owned energy firm in Armenia sparked a renewed sense of outrage over Russia's general arrogance towards Armenia.
Reliable partner
For years, Armenia stood alone in the South Caucasus as the only reliable partner for Russia in the region. Armenia is the host of the only Russian military base in the region. This partnership also included ceding control of two of Armenia's borders to Russian border guards.
And beyond even that basic infringement on sovereignty, the terms of the Russian military base agreement are rather insulting, as the host government not only forgoes any "rental" payment for the land, but is also required to incur all operating costs of the base itself.
originally posted by: Xcalibur254
a reply to: Xcathdra
If only the almighty BRICS would step in with their economic/military/technological/intellectual/etc superiority. Then all problems would be solved.
More specifically, the trajectory of the protests have already exceeded the confines of the initial focus of anger over the Armenian government's decision to impose a price rise for electricity.
The fact that it was a price rise that was sought by a Russian-owned energy firm in Armenia sparked a renewed sense of outrage over Russia's general arrogance towards Armenia.
could be . don't know .
Google RSC. Look at their about page.
Mr. Giragosian's employment history makes it quite clear where the cash is coming from, and who he's shilling for. His association with RFE/RFL is the least concerning. The rest of RSC's staff isn't much better.
There's nothing political or anti-Russian about these protests, there never was, no matter how much the pro-West shills wish reality were different. But that's how it works, doesn't it. You can't peddle lies at home, so take advantage of the language barrier and peddle lies overseas.
I like how there's no mention of the sale of the formerly state-owned Vorotan hydroelectricity Cascade to ContourGlobal, an American company -- in a sale that former president Kocharian has repeatedly condemned as illegal -- or that Contour, out of nowhere raised its operating costs, thus forcing a price hike.
ENA owns the energy grid, not the power generation. ENA has been running at a loss for some time, and ENA's parent company has signaled its willingness to sell -- either to one of a number of Russo-Armenian billionaires, or to the Armenian government.
there's no mention that with the Hydro damns operating costs increased, and the nuclear plant operating with only one turbine and with only enough uranium to last through 2016, Armenia, being a small, resource-starved, landlocked country has to import fuel. Gas is sold in USD, the Dram depreciated from 382:1 vs the dollar to 472:1 over the past year, yeah, it thermal energy is going to be more expensive that it was.
Nice choice of picture, too. Water canons sell the lie much better than the images of singing, dancing, srink-playing and protestor vs police chess and football matches those of us who follow Armenian news have been seeing (yes, the water canons happened on the first day, it's shamelessly dishonest to peddle the false image that this remained the case).
Where the Gyumri military base is concerned, Mr. Giragosian's assessment is quite misleading. It is used by Armenian armed forces as well, and it is what keeps the frozen conflict with Azerbaijan frozen. There's no mention of Armenia's CSTO membership (for the non former-Soviets, that's more or less the post-Soviet space's NATO). War with Armenia is war with Russia, neither Azerbaijan, nor Turkey with its NATO backing will risk that. And this is pretty much the penultimate representation of the relationship between Armenia and Russia, both historically and today.
While it is factually true that Russia guards two of our borders, those are the closed borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan/Nakhichevan.
It was Russia that liberated Armenia from the Persian Empire. It was Armenia's status as a protectorate of the Rossiyskaya Imperiya that spared Eastern Armenians from the fate of their Western Armenian brothers and sisters (extermination and exile by Ottoman hands). It was Sovietization which dragged our 99% agrarian backwater anachronism of a Motherland kicking and screaming into the 20th century, transforming it into a regional industrial powerhouse. It is Russian-built infrastructure and Russian investment which keeps the country going, Russian Migs that protect our skies, and our alliances with our Russian brothers and sisters which guarantees our country's and our people's continued existence.
For better or for worse, Armenia is married to Russia. they are as vital to our security interests as we are to theirs, in providing a buffer space protecting its vulnerable underbelly. The loudest voices calling for Yerevan to distance itself from Moscow come from Baku and Ankara. Armenians know this and won't fall for it, the English speaking world tends not to (never mind understanding the implications), and that's what Mr. Giragosian and friends are counting on.
Inb4 "herpa derp derp Russian troll". I'm Armenian, I love my people, I love my country, and I won't let shills put words in our mouths.
Grnank martavari tsev'ov irar knossil, iraganoutiamp. Yet'e ayn bayman soud khossik, garevor pan me chpouneek essellou.
originally posted by: MrSpad
Armenia has sniffed around the EU and NATO before but, they have one big problem with leaving. Azerbaijan along with its good buddies Turkey and Georgia would crush that Russian backed enclave that both Armenia and Azerbaijan claim. Frankly unless they can settle that they simply can not afford to leave Russia no matter what. Then again being tied to Russia ls like trying to swim across a lake a with rock tied to your leg. So they might bolt and hope for the best. If you Russia your just not in a good place Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Georgia have all made it clear they are done with Russia. Belarus is creeping away and Armenia looks to try as well. And in the East Russia has lost it trade dominance and a lot of influence to China who is set to completely take those states away from Russia. The Russia nights must be getting lonely.
originally posted by: Forensick
originally posted by: MrSpad
Armenia has sniffed around the EU and NATO before but, they have one big problem with leaving. Azerbaijan along with its good buddies Turkey and Georgia would crush that Russian backed enclave that both Armenia and Azerbaijan claim. Frankly unless they can settle that they simply can not afford to leave Russia no matter what. Then again being tied to Russia ls like trying to swim across a lake a with rock tied to your leg. So they might bolt and hope for the best. If you Russia your just not in a good place Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Georgia have all made it clear they are done with Russia. Belarus is creeping away and Armenia looks to try as well. And in the East Russia has lost it trade dominance and a lot of influence to China who is set to completely take those states away from Russia. The Russia nights must be getting lonely.
MrSpad, In your opinion, does Russia know any other way than by force to reverse this tide? It would seem to me (and I dont know anything) but in order for them to function and Putin to live through those lonely nights, they are going to have to stop sanctions becuase as more countries move away and say joint NATO or the EU then that is effectively even more economic sanctions on Russia.
Add to that China taking a slice of the pie Russia seems to be becoming more and more weak.
So the only way to stop sanctions and open the market is either they back down and let these states go and accept they need to be "nice" to play in Europe which would leave them with egg on their face - or they do something else?
I cant see South America being a lucrative partnership and I know many countries investing in South America, Chile for one I am actively involved in.
originally posted by: PredatorCrackling
a reply to: MrSpad
Complete bias and propaganda as usual.
Just like when you talk about ISIS and how they created themselves out of nowhere LOLZ