"Amid escalating repressions and police brutality in Armenia, the Biden Administration has taken a controversial position: it has unequivocally thrown its weight behind the country’s increasingly autocratic and embattled prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who has consolidated power to the greatest extent since Armenia’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and who has overseen the continued deterioration of Armenia’s institutions, security, and sovereignty," reads the report.

The article, titled "The Biden Administration Is Positioning Armenia for Defeat," says that the Biden administration's open support for Nikol Pashinyan amid growing repression and police violence in Armenia is controversial. Armenia has been seriously weakened militarily and economically since 2020, and Pashinyan has yet to improve the situation in the country; on the contrary, the political crisis, persecution, and discord in the country are growing every day. In such a situation, a new confrontation with Azerbaijan could lead Armenia to another military failure and humanitarian catastrophe. The Pashinyan government's statements about distancing itself from Russia are nothing more than a smokescreen. The reality is that Armenia remains a member of the Russia-led alliance and hosts a Russian military base on its territory.

"In fact, Armenia has gone the opposite way, including by facilitating a massive increase of re-exports in order for Russia to circumvent US-led sanctions related to Ukraine. We have also recently learned that Armenia’s representative at the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland refused to sign the final declaration on Ukraine. Moreover, in a move that is likely to please Russia and upset the US and many of its G20 allies, Armenia recognized the State of Palestine on June 21, 2024. Finally, Pashinyan has announced that he will be attending the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October.

It is unclear what could justify US support of the destructive tendencies of the Pashinyan government toward its own country and people. The ruling party’s overall approval rating remains extremely low by any standards. A survey conducted by the International Republican Institute in March, before the recent controversial border demarcation moves by Pashinyan, showed that only 13% of voters trust him. More damaging was the ruling party candidate receiving just 8% of the vote during the September 2023 mayoral elections for Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, where voters are more educated and politically savvy.

While US assistance currently falls short of putting boots on the ground or even providing capabilities to allow Armenia to defend itself, the Biden Administration is putting a finger on the scale to help Pashinyan, who is the weakest link in Armenia’s defense. Hence, the Biden Administration is leading Armenia, a friendly nation, to a new military failure and humanitarian disaster," reads the article.

"For a small country with less than two million inhabitants, Armenia has amassed a force exceeding thirty thousand policemen, likely making Armenia the most highly policed state in the region in per capita terms, with salaries and bonus pay far exceeding those of teachers, scientists, and a whole array of private sector employees. This is economic suicide, and it cannot be sustained.

A nation-wide protest movement has, since May of 2024, called Pashinyan’s border demarcation along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border illegal and anti-constitutional, and has demanded his resignation. On June 12, 2024, Armenia’s riot police used stun grenades against unsuspecting peaceful protesters and journalists. As a result, nearly 80 protesters and journalists received injuries and sought medical help, while several dozen were detained. One of the leaders of the protest movement, journalist Abraham Gasparyan, was kidnapped by police and severely beaten while in custody.

A ruling party MP and oligarch, Khachatur Sukiasyan, threatened his opposition colleagues: “If you don’t behave … you will either end up in prison, die, or be dispossessed.” Private businesses that have voiced their support of the protest movement have been subjected to surprise tax inspections and other government scrutiny, involving confiscation of computers and other equipment making it difficult for them to function.

Human rights groups have been critical of the Pashinyan regime’s handling of the public protests. Referring to the well-documented episodes of police brutality and use of stun grenades on June 12, including against journalists, Amnesty International, the International Press Institute, Reporters Without Borders, Transparency International, and other international and local NGOs called on the Pashinyan government to investigate what happened and hold accountable those responsible for use of excessive force against demonstrators and journalists.

However, and shockingly, less than 24 hours prior to the tragic events, the US State Department issued a statement on the outcome of the visit by Assistant Secretary James O’Brien, in which he praised police reform. His colleagues at the US Embassy in Yerevan were even more off the mark: they issued a statement essentially blaming the protestors for what happened on June 12 and putting them on the same level as the perpetrators," the author wrote.

By continuing to support Pashinyan, the Biden administration is pursuing policies that will have disastrous consequences for Armenia and its people. This is setting Armenia up for another defeat and will most likely lead to the expulsion of the US from the region.

AzVision.az

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