Radar Armenia's interlocutor is Ruben Mehrabyan, the vice-chairman of the "For the Republic" party.

- Pashinyan was in Russia on May 9, and now Lavrov is coming to Armenia. In your opinion, is there a rapprochement between Armenian-Russian relations?

- No, because we need confirmation of that fact, which we do not have now. For example, Armenia made some concessions, or the Russians took new positions inside Armenia. There is none of that.

- It is noted that Pashinyan and Lavrov will also discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Is Russia again trying to become a key factor in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations?

- Yes, the Russians have tried, are trying, and will try to poke their noses into that process, and the Armenian side has done what it has done so far, told about it, what it has said, and has not allowed them to poke their noses into it.

- And is there no change in Russia's approaches?

- Russia has not given up on its intentions, and its mind has not changed. Having been kicked out of the door, Russia will now enter through the vent, kicked out of the vent, and will enter through the sewer; that's how Russia is. When does it stop when it is stopped? Armenia has not stopped Russia yet. So, these attempts will continue. Russia wants us not to be a state but a collective Ara Abrahamyan and Simonyan Margo; whatever they want, we will always be grateful and say that you saved us. Russia's plans include returning the former post-Soviet territory under its sovereignty, and the so-called union state is one of these tools, but not the only one.

- And what should Armenia do to stop it?

- Liquidation of the Russian presence inside Armenia. The things that have already been done must be continued: withdrawal of the Russian military base, closure of "Rossatdrudnichestvo," termination of the contract with "Gazprom" and Russian Railways, and so on. The Russian embassy should not be a 10-story agent's den but the size of a newspaper stand.

- In your opinion, why is Armenia not taking these steps?

- Political capabilities are not enough.

Angela Poghosyan