ArmInfo. Economic collapse will result in a decline in the quality of life for Armenian citizens, leading to a sense of hopelessness and encouraging emigration in search of a "bright" European future and the promotion of democracy. Political scientist Garik Keryan expressed his views on an interview with Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin.
He quoted an excerpt from an interview with a Russian diplomat for the Izvestia newspaper, according to which Russia expects to achieve a record trade turnover with Armenia of $14-16 billion by the end of the year. "After reading this information, I became interested in how Eurovote activists and political organizations interpret it, comparing the trade volumes between Armenia and the EU. Most likely, they will claim that the figures are fabricated, a lie and the result of reselling mobile phones from the Emirates, etc. I am not an economist and I do not want to argue. However, for a small country like Armenia, the volume of trade is very indicative. No one is against developing economic ties with the EU and the US.
On paper, it would be ideal for us if there were no conflict between Russia and the West. This would provide an opportunity to develop political and economic relations with both poles simultaneously. There is a legal basis for this, as Armenia is included in the EU Eastern Partnership program, and has been in effect with the EU since 2017 under the agreement "On a Comprehensive and Expanded Partnership." However, supporters of multilateral cooperation must understand that the current political situation and the conflict that has escalated into a war leave little room for a balanced policy with far-sighted and specific calculations. Economic collapse will result in a decline in living standards, leading to despair and emigration in pursuit of a "bright" European future and the development of democracy. Our people are unlikely to choose economic hardships and cold weather for several winters," the political scientist noted.
