YEREVAN. – Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev was shaking Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s hands, but current Russian PM and President-elect Vladimir Putin will not shake and rather attempt to break their hands, Armenian capital Yerevan’s Regional Studies Center Director Richard Giragosian stated during a press conference on Friday. 

Nonetheless, Giragosian believes Russian FM Sergei Lavrov’s recent visit to Armenia showed that Armenia has attained a greater strategic value for Russia.  

“The visit had three political objectives: First, it was Armenia’s importance for Russia. Second, [it was] Russia’s policy in the South Caucasus. [And] Third, he [Lavrov] visited Armenia one month before [the country’s] parliamentary elections,” Giragosian stated. 

“Russia is improving its relations with Azerbaijan. Russia will continue its role in the [OSCE] Minsk Group, but there will be some changes. President Medvedev was shaking President Sargsyan’s and President Aliyev’s hands, but Putin will not shake and rather attempt to break their hands,” the political analyst predicted.   

“Armenia must learn lessons from Russia, [as] it is dangerous to ignore the social demands. The danger of ignoring social demands must be taken into account,” Richard Giragosian concluded.

Photo by Sona Barseghyan