The source of chagrin in Yerevan is the suspicion that the November 12 downing of the Armenian Mi-24 military helicopter, and the deaths of the three-man crew, had a significant Russian connection: Moscow supposedly supplied Azerbaijan with the Strela air-defense system that was used in the incident, said Karabakh’s de-facto defense minister, Movses Hakobian.
Armenian leaders are now wrestling with the question of how to respond to Moscow’s perceived indirect involvement. The matter, though not yet voiced publicly by officials, comes at a critical moment for both Armenia and Russia. The Armenian parliament is expected during its upcoming session, which opens December 1, to vote on ratification of Armenia’s agreement on accession to the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
While the pact is expected to be ratified, some ordinary Armenians, already uneasy about the deal, believe that the helicopter attack should prompt politicians to reconsider. Russia is heralded by officials in Yerevan as Armenia’s chief strategic ally. But the shoot-down incident has many in Yerevan wondering where Armenia stands in the Kremlin’s eyes.
“While smiling at us, Russia sells weapons to our enemy, and we have what we have,” fumed 42-year-old Yerevan schoolteacher Anna Markossian. “This is a sign for us to think once more about joining Russia’s EEU.”
Political analyst Ara Papian agrees. “If Russia is selling weapons to Azerbaijan, how can it be our ally in the world?” asked Papian, who heads the non-profit Modus Vivendi Center in Yerevan. “Such a thing should not happen.”
Anger appears to be mounting within the de-facto leadership of the so-calles Karabakh.
“In my opinion, while thinking about its economic interests” in selling weapons to Azerbaijan, “Russia should take into account our interests, too, but this does not happen,” Hakobian said.
Moscow, which has not recognized the so-called Karabakh Republic`s independence, does not consider the territory to be officially an ally.
Moscow, to date, has called for both sides to refrain from escalating tension, but has not condemned the attack. Nor do many Armenians expect it to do so. Russia recently announced plans to build a strategic railway to Iran via Azerbaijan.
“It speaks to servility, to spinelessness … the fact that Kremlin officials refuse to treat Armenia as a political player,” said human-rights activist Artur Sakunts, a longtime government critic.
Note that, two military helicopters, performing combat maneuvers over the Azerbaijani positions, attempted to open fire at the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces after coming into combat course at 1,700 meters northeast from Kangarli village of Aghdam region.
Azerbaijani troops returned fire and brought down the helicopter.
Baku and Yerevan have been locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan`s region Nagorno-Karabakh for years.
Armenian-backed separatists seized the region from Azerbaijan during a war in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000 people.
Karabakh still internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
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