Protests in Armenia have two components: objective and external -  political scientist

ArmInfo.The protest movement in Armenia has two components: objective and artificial, external, associated with Russia. This opinion was expressed in an interview with the opposition Russian TV channel Dozhd by Stepan Grigoryan, director of the Armenian Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation.

According to him, of course, there are objective reasons for  dissatisfaction with government policies. " Any process of  demarcation, delimitation, especially with a country with which you  were recently at war, is certainly painful. There are other problems  that lead to discontent. It is impossible to exclude these objective  reasons in the protest movement, but there are also artificial  reasons, where pro-Russian forces play a large role, forces that are  under the influence of Russia. Therefore, there is an artificial  external component here, when Russia stimulates pro-Russian forces,  or the "fifth column" in Armenia. Therefore, these protests have  these two components - objective discontent and artificially  escalating the situation,  but I will not say that they are dangerous  for the authorities," Grigoryan emphasized.

Answering a question about the figure of the protest leader,  Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the political scientist noted that this  is a fundamental question. "The fact is that the main opposition  forces, although there are many of them, there are different groups  in the opposition, both small and medium-sized, and various public  figures, scientists, know that the main engine of the movement is two  former Armenian presidents, that is, "former authorities". But since  they are unpopular, it seems to me that a decision was made to put  forward such a figure - one of the spiritual leaders of the Armenian  Church. And this person will look more neutral. Even if Bagrat  Galstanyan himself does not realize it, he was nominated by Russian  groups," the political scientist noted.

Grigoryan agreed that today a lot of things are being done similar to  what Pashinyan did.   "Just as Pashinyan walked from Gyumri to  Yerevan in 2018, so Galstanyan from the village of Kirants headed to  the capital. Blocking roads, highways, all these are the same  methods. I would say that this is an imitation of revolution. An  attempt to show that since Pashinyan had the right, then we also have  the right," Grigoryan said, noting that in essence these are  different situations, since the former government was not legitimate,  it was not elected by the people, and the current government is  certainly legitimate , although it can and should be criticized.  "They, repeating what Nikol Pashinyan did, think that they can win  this way. But everyone understands what exactly is behind it.  Everyone understands that the external influence on these processes  is very large," Grigoryan noted.

Answering the question, what is the meaning and task of the Kremlin  in supporting this movement, is it revenge on Pashinyan for his  position on the CSTO, or all because of the signature on the Rome  Statute, or revenge for the independent position that he shows, for  example, his refusal to participate in the summit of CIS leaders, the  political scientist noted that, of course, the Kremlin does not like  the steps, more or less independent, from Pashinyan. "But it seems to  me that their main dislike for Pashinyan is due to the fact that he  was elected by the people, and for the Kremlin this is unacceptable.  The Kremlin needs people under its influence, the puppet type. This  is the essence of any authoritarian regimes. Moreover, if we are  talking about big players who do not want to see partners around, but  want to see puppets who will turn Armenia into a part of Russia, a  Russian province," Grigoryan believes.

The political scientist noted that there is no need to talk about  Pashinyan's resignation: "Resignation is far away, but I have always  said and am telling our government: if you do not take clear steps  towards European integration, towards finding new allies, this  protest movement will complicate your life ."