In a stunning display of democratic defiance that has left Kremlin spin doctors choking on their pickled herring, Armenia’s pro-Western government has swept to victory in an election that Moscow had hoped would be a masterclass in meddling. The result is a resounding two-fingered salute to Russian pressure, proving that even in a region where vodka flows like political bribes, the will of the people can still triumph.
Let’s be clear: this was not just an election. It was a geopolitical punch-up in a phone box. Armenia, a country that has spent centuries perfecting the art of survival between empires, has looked Vladimir Putin’s bear-like growl in the face and said, “Not today, comrade.” The UK, ever the gentleman in the corner with a stiff upper lip and a briefcase of diplomatic cash, has been hailed as the quiet godfather of this little democratic miracle. But let’s not get misty-eyed: this is a cold, hard strategic game, and Armenia has just played a blinder.
The Russian narrative, as flimsy as a Kremlin press release, was that the pro-West opposition were puppets of NATO and that only Moscow could bring stability to the Caucasus. What a load of borscht-flavoured nonsense. Armenia’s voters, many of whom still remember the Soviet boot on their necks, have chosen the path of transparency, reform, and the faint but tantalising whiff of EU membership. It’s a choice that reeks of optimism, and frankly, in this part of the world, that’s about as rare as a sober oligarch.
But let’s not get too carried away. The new government faces a mountain of problems: a frozen conflict with Azerbaijan, an economy held together by string and remittances, and the ever-present threat of Russian cyber-shenanigans. Still, for one glorious morning, the people of Yerevan can look in the mirror and see a democracy that works. That’s more than can be said for Downing Street these days.
So raise a glass of Armenian brandy to the brave souls who told Putin to shove his sphere of influence. The West has a new poster child, and it’s a plucky little nation that just might teach us all a thing or two about spine. Now if only we could export that courage back home.
