Russian Embassy criticizes Armenian media for campaigning against Gyumri Base

Publications against the deployment of a Russian military contingent in Armenia threaten the interrelations of the two countries, the Russian Embassy to Armenia has stated. In their turn, Armenian journalists assert that there are no political forces and media in Armenia that would purposefully advocate a break with Moscow.

"A number of NGOs, by using their 'baited' media, are trying to spoil the Russian-Armenian relations ... What is the aim of authors of 'independent' studies of the harmful consequences of the deployment of the Russian contingent in the republic?" the Russian Embassy to Armenia asks on its Facebook.

"Many call for abandoning the vassal relations with Russia and revise the Armenian-Russian treaties, in which the Russian party has a clear dictator's role. These demands are often treated as the 'anti-Russian position'," Naira Airumyan, the editor of the "Lragir" website version, has explained.

In her opinion, the anti-Russian sentiments are fuelled by the unfriendly actions of the Russian party itself – in particular, by Russia's supplying weapons to Azerbaijan.

The criticism of the Armenian-Russian relations by mass media is ongoing; however, it's objectively facilitated by the sale of weapons to Azerbaijan and problems with discipline at the Gyumri Russian Military Base, which result in tragic incidents, Ayk Khalatyan, a journalist, has noted.