YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: After the interview given by the Russian President [Vladimir Putin] yesterday, some people got the impression that [Armenian PM] Nikol Pashinyan enjoys the support of the RF [i.e., the Russian Federation]. According to this point of view, this is evidenced by Vladimir Putin's statement that calling Nikol Pashinyan a traitor is groundless; [but] we can talk about the mistakes he made.

However, the circles that are well informed with the political process are convinced that in the current situation, the RF president is trying to come out a winner and is keeping Pashinyan for now for the sake of his empire. "The so much increase of the Turkish factor in the region was not in Russia's interests, but if this situation is created, Russia will now try to advance its interests as much as possible."

According to our source, even though the tripartite statement talks about the deployment of 1,960 peacekeepers in Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], shadow negotiations are in progress, and the Russian side wants to send 14-15 thousand soldiers to Karabakh and turn those territories into its training ground.

Therefore, it is not convenient for Russia that the Prime Minister changes in Armenia at least until December 1: the deadline for handing over the territories [to Azerbaijan] noted in the statement. So obvious blows will not be dealt to Nikol Pashinyan; the blows will be dealt more diplomatically.