By Ruzanna Stepanian
A senior Russian official expressed confidence on Wednesday that Armenia will not see the kind of popular uprising that swept away the ruling regimes in other former Soviet republics.Vladimir Rushaylo, the executive secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States, said the situation in Armenia is now more stable than it was in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan where fraudulent elections triggered bloodless revolutions hailed by the West.
“I think the situation in Armenia is stable,” Rushaylo told RFE/RL. “Compared to other CIS countries, Armenia is in good shape, especially in terms of economic growth.”
Russia watched with alarm the wave of revolutions which brought to power younger and pro-Western leaders in what it still considers its zone of influence. Russian leaders say the regime changes were part of a Western conspiracy to further undermine its influence in the former Soviet. Hence, their disapproval of the Armenian opposition’s threats to stage a similar revolt in Armenia.
Rushaylo’s comments also reflect the position of Armenia’s leadership and President Robert Kocharian in particular. Kocharian has repeatedly stated that his opponents will fail to unseat him because he has a stronger security apparatus and a better economic track record than the deposed ex-Soviet rulers had.
Rushaylo spoke to RFE/RL after holding talks with Kocharian and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. The former Russian interior minister will preside over a meeting of CIS interior ministers which will open in Yerevan on Thursday.
(Presidential press service photo: Rushaylo greeted by Kocharian.)