Past daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes as follows, in particular: The Bishkek meeting showed that Russia has moved from purely diplomatic wording to very drastic steps [toward Armenia], without mincing manners, in a more harsh tone, proposing Armenia’s authorities to decide: either [the European Union (EU)] or [the Eurasian Economic Union].

The thing is that, as our sources close to the Kremlin report, the perception of the official RF [i.e. the Russian Federation] authorities is clear: namely, by entering into negotiations and asking to [re]open the Russian market for Armenia, [Armenian PM Nikol] Pashinyan simply wants to buy time.

The meaning is that it would be possible to avoid a referendum [on Armenia choosing to join the EU] for at least 2-3 years, show that Armenia is not interested in “going” to the West, during which time partially diversify [the country’s] exports, partially reduce the number of [its] farms, and then unexpectedly cut all ties with Moscow in one day, essentially repeating the behavior of Ukraine.

It is clear that official Moscow has no desire, so to speak, to finance the “slide” of Armenia’s authorities towards the West, which is already being voiced by Russian experts and politicians, and, according to our information, the Russia’s authorities have decided to pursue the hardest, harshest policy towards Armenia. What tangible manifestations this will have is not yet clear.

However, as we have already had the opportunity to note, making a reference to our other sources, in parallel with the ban on exports from Armenia [to Russia], the deportation of a large number of RA citizens living and working in the RF is possible, restrictions on money transfers and all transport communications, an increase in the price of [Russian] energy sources [in Armenia], in particular [natural] gas, etc. The most serious, disastrous consequences of all this for Armenia are obvious even to non-economists. Moreover, it is not the authorities of the day who will suffer from all this, but the country and the Armenian people.