Protests against electricity price hikes in Yerevan have little in common with Ukraine’s uprising – but Russian geopolitical rhetoric has a habit of making self-fulfilling prophecies, American analyst Paul Goble writes in his article published in both The Interpreter and The Guardian.

According to him, many Russian analysts are hurrying to suggest that this week’s protests in Yerevan and their suppression by the Armenian government are the opening round of a new Maidan – an anti-Moscow action promoted and exploited by the west as part of a broader geopolitical struggle.

“But such an interpretation of events […] could prove to be the worst form of a self-fulfilling prophecy, transforming what are protests by Armenians about domestic conditions into something more. Should Moscow choose to defend the existing authorities in Yerevan no matter what, it would alienate the country against Russia.”

He also refers to the article by analyst Sergey Markedonov, who as well as other analysts in Russia and west, warn the Kremlin against misunderstanding of the situation.

“What is happening in Armenia is decidedly not like what happened in Ukraine. For one thing, Russia considers Armenia its strategic partner. For another, the government and the people are not divided in their attitude toward Moscow. Some in the government question Yerevan’s ties with Russia; and many in the streets would like to see those ties deeper,” the article reads.