Russian MFA: Moscow expects new leadership of Armenia will find the  courage to resist blackmail and US pressure

ArmInfo. Moscow hopes that the new leadership of Armenia will find the courage to resist blackmail and pressure from the US, will make decisions independently,  Secretary of State Grigory Karasin said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

In October, John Bolton, Adviser to the President of the United  States on National Security Affairs, visited Yerevan. In his speech  to reporters, he, commenting on the conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh,  noted that the American "weapon is in any case better than the  Russian." Bolton also advised Yerevan to "get rid of historical  cliches" in its international relations.

"Against the background of the radical changes taking place in the  country this year, Washington's interference in its domestic and  foreign affairs is becoming more and more unceremonious," Karasin  said.

According to the diplomat, Bolton insultingly called the historical  experience of the Armenian people "historical cliches", and also  ordered Armenia to buy American weapons and join the anti-Iran  sanctions as soon as possible. "If this is the public side of the  US-Armenian relations, then we can only imagine what kind of"  arm-twisting "takes place behind the scenes," Karasin noted.

"We hope that the current leadership of Armenia, which received the  necessary mandate at the parliamentary elections, will find the  courage to resist outright external blackmail and pressure, will  defend the sovereign right to make decisions independently,  consistent with national interests," the Deputy Foreign Minister  said.

On December 9, Armenia held early elections to the National Assembly.   Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's "My Step" bloc won 70.45% of  the vote, and the former ruling Republican Party did not overcome the  passing barrier.