The people of Armenia have spoken, and the message is clear: they want a future tied to the West, not to Moscow. In a stunning election result, the pro-Western opposition has swept to power, ending decades of Kremlin-backed rule. For the industrial towns of the North of England, this might seem like a distant affair. But for those of us who remember the price of bread in the 1980s, the links are clear. When empires shift, the cost of living moves too.
The new government has promised to cut ties with Russian energy and open talks with the European Union. For the man on the street in Yerevan, that means hope. For the woman queuing for gas in Manchester, it means less global instability and fewer shocks to the energy market. London has been quick to praise the result. The Foreign Office called it a victory for democratic resilience. But for the working class in Doncaster, the real question is whether this will mean fairer wages and steadier prices.
The Caucasus has long been a chessboard for great powers. For years, Russian influence kept a lid on reform, stifling the region’s potential. Now, with Armenia turning West, the old certainties are breaking down. The Kremlin will not take this lying down. Expect trade restrictions and political pressure. But Armenia’s workers and families have endured enough. They want the same things we do: a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, a home they can afford, and a future for their children.
This is a story of ordinary people taking back power. In Yerevan, they marched for months, braving tear gas and beatings. They voted in record numbers. Their victory is a reminder that democracy, when it is real, can still change lives. For the North of England, where our own democracy sometimes feels distant from Westminster, there is a lesson here. When workers organise and demand better, they can shift the ground beneath the powerful.
But there are risks. Pro-Western governments often promise quick fixes to open markets and privatise industries. That can mean job losses and cheap imports that undercut local producers. The new Armenian government must resist the urge to sell off the family silver. They must protect their steel mills and textile factories, just as we fight for our own manufacturing base. A pro-Western stance must not mean giving up control of your own economy.
London’s praise is welcome, but it must be matched with action. Trade deals that protect workers’ rights, not just corporate profits. Investment in infrastructure that creates decent jobs, not just short term projects. Armenia needs support to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the elite. And for that, they need a model that values labour over capital.
The real test of this victory will come in the months ahead. Can the new government deliver lower prices and higher wages? Can it break the oligarchs’ grip on the economy? If it can, then the Caucasus will become a beacon for other countries still trapped in Russia’s orbit. If it fails, the old power will creep back.
For now, the Armenian people have given themselves a chance. They have shown that a nation can choose its own path, even when the odds are stacked against it. As they build their new future, we should watch and learn. Because the struggle for a fair economy is global. And every victory anywhere is a victory for working people everywhere.
