Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated that the imposition of Western liberal values and pressure on the church are leading to a split in Armenian society.
"We are already seeing attempts to rewrite history and undermine national and traditional foundations. Western liberal values are being imposed on the Armenian people, and the church is being persecuted. All of this is leading to a split in society. And perhaps this is the greatest loss that Armenia could suffer—the loss of unity," Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel.
The State Duma Speaker also pointed to the situation in Ukraine after 2014 and mentioned the Baltic states, hinting at possible negative consequences for Armenia. According to Volodin, these states aspired to join the European Union, but, "as time has shown, they are no happier for it."
Vyacheslav Volodin specifically highlighted the economic benefits he claimed Armenia received after joining the EAEU in 2015. He stated that during this time, the Armenian economy has grown significantly: the country's GDP has increased approximately two and a half times, from $10.55 billion to $26.37 billion.
The State Duma Speaker also noted that Russia supplies gas to Armenia at a preferential rate of $177.5 per thousand cubic meters. For comparison, he cited the cost of gas in Europe, where he said prices reach $633.
Volodin estimates that Armenia's possible withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union could cost the country approximately $5 billion, equivalent to approximately 15-20% of its gross domestic product.
Volodin previously called the European Political Community summit held in Yerevan on the eve of Victory Day "an unfriendly gesture," specifically highlighting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the Armenian capital.
The day before, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described Russian-Armenian relations as close, but experiencing certain difficulties. He attributed these difficulties to Western countries' attempts to increase their influence in Yerevan.
