Yerevan, September 3, 2025
Armenian journalist and blogger Roman Baghdasaryan, founder of the platform In the Center of the Lens, said that Armenian society overwhelmingly supports peace with Azerbaijan and warned that Russia remains the main destabilizing factor in the region.
Speaking to Minval Politika, Baghdasaryan estimated that “about 90 percent” of Armenians welcome peace initiatives with Baku. He noted that opposition groups and “a limited number of reckless people” make up the minority resisting normalization.
“The Dashnaktsutyun party and the Karabakh clan are small in number, and today they behave quietly. Prime Minister Pashinyan has been strict in keeping them in check,” he said.
On how to deal with hardline groups, Baghdasaryan argued that authorities should act “as harshly as possible” because, in his words, they do not understand otherwise.
Baghdasaryan also highlighted Yerevan’s move to establish diplomatic relations with Islamabad, calling it a step toward neutrality and non-involvement in conflicts.
Commenting on tensions between Baku and Moscow, the journalist stressed that they would not derail the peace process. “Both sides have decided that we will resolve our issues ourselves. Pashinyan has enough resources to stop any attempts from Russia to provoke or escalate,” he said.
At the same time, Baghdasaryan warned that Russia still poses serious risks. “The FSB always has scenarios prepared for today, for a month, and for years ahead. The worst can be expected from this state and this structure,” he said.
Baghdasaryan praised Washington’s mediation efforts, saying they are far more effective than Moscow’s: “For us, Washington is a thousand times better than Moscow, which does not even respect the territorial integrity of its neighbors. Under such conditions, what right does Russia have to mediate in the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict?”
He also emphasized the role of civil society in the peace process, noting that public voices for reconciliation have influenced the approach of both Aliyev and Pashinyan.
“People’s diplomacy is extremely important in this context,” Baghdasaryan concluded.
