Die schädliche Wahl, die zeigt, wie Putins globale Reichweite schwindet

Full story here: Election results early this week in a former part of the Soviet Union have struck a further blow to [Vladimir Putin’s](https://inews.co.uk/topic/vladimir-putin?ico=in-line_link) global influence, and shows how much the [war in Ukraine](https://inews.co.uk/topic/russia-ukraine-war?ico=in-line_link) has damaged the Russian President’s international standing.

The elections in [Armenia](https://inews.co.uk/topic/armenia?ico=in-line_link) saw a pro-EU party, Civil Contract, secure 49.8 per cent of the vote, compared to 23.2 per cent for the pro-Russian Strong Armenia party. The vote gave prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was seeking re-election on a promise of European integration, a strong boost.

The result is already being viewed as evidence of Russia’s waning influence in the country, which was previously seen by the Kremlin as a key military, economic and geopolitical partner. It also comes as Russia’s influence is suffering additional setbacks around the world.

The result is “the best possible one from the mainstream European point of view,” James Nixey, acting head of research and analysis at the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies, told *The i Paper*.

He framed it as “a victory for reasonably democratic, liberal forces against pro-Kremlin opposition. This gives Armenia its best possible chance, albeit in difficult conditions”.

# Putin’s blunders abroad

Armenia has historically strong ties to Russia, but a series of Russian diplomatic and military missteps have soured relations between the two countries in recent years, fuelling pro-European sentiment. Most notable is the perception that, since 2020, Russia has failed to come to Armenia’s aid during offensives by neighbouring Azerbaijan into the disputed [Nagorno-Karabakh territory](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-russia-peace-deal-nagorno-karabakh-disaster-2645333?ico=in-line_link).

Armenia had called for Russian military aid through the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a Nato-styled military alliance headed by Russia. However, Russia’s peacekeeping forces in the region failed to maintain a ceasefire, and Azerbaijan seized the territory, displacing around 100,000 Armenians in the process.

Natia Seskuria, a senior research fellow in Russian and Eurasian security at Rusi, told *The i Paper* that this was a “crucial turning point” in the relationship between Russia and Armenia.

After that, Armenia froze its membership of the alliance and is taking active [steps](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/putin-empire-central-asia-russia-fail-keep-peace-closest-allies-1872487?ico=in-line_link) to leave it. The shock of the conflict triggered the forming of stronger European ties through the [EU Mission in Armenia](https://www.eeas.europa.eu/euma/about-european-union-mission-armenia_en?s=410283).

“This perceived strategic vulnerability has created a political necessity for diversification and reassessment of foreign partnerships,” Zoe Neiman, an expert in Russian and Eurasian security at the Royal United Services Institute, [wrote](https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/armenias-election-and-future-security-south-caucasus) this month.

Putin is doomed at this point. 100% his fault to launch an imperialist war while Ukraine was absolutely no threat to Russia. There was no provocation. No possibility of one in the future. All the Russian dead are for nothing. Zero

So many Russians are dead. People in Russia should be more angry.