“Russia and Armenia’s Fragile Relationship Revealed amid Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis

The crisis in the Nagorno-Karabakh region lays bare the deteriorating relations between Armenia and Russia. Though the two countries have been close for centuries, the Kremlin’s decision to remain neutral in the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the region has led to a sharp decline in the already fragile ties. The conflict began in August 2020 when fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces in the region sparked into full-blown war. This ignited a fresh wave of tensions between the two former Soviet republics and further exacerbated the issues between Armenia and Russia. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted to broker a ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, however, the parties involved failed to reach a consensus. The problem lies in the fact that Moscow has good relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan and it is seen as a potential arbitrator in the dispute. Despite the historical alliance between Armenia and Russia, the two countries have been caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the Nagorno Karabakh crisis. On one hand, Moscow cannot alienate Azerbaijan, whose military is led by former Russian officials, or risk straining relations with the far more powerful Turkey. On the other hand, Armenia looks to Russia to provide military aid as well as diplomatic support, seeing Moscow as a strong ally in any potential resolution with Azerbaijan. Ultimately, the Nagorno Karabakh crisis presents a difficult situation for Armenia and Russia as both countries are exposed to the same traps but lack the power to resolve the conflict on their own. To resolve the crisis, Moscow will need to find a way to reconcile the two sides, a process which will likely require intervention from international and regional powers. Until a solution is reached, the crisis lays bare the deteriorating relations between Armenia and its former ally Russia.