The Monocle Daily Why Armenia has become Putin’s latest target
19 snips
Apr 2, 2026 Stephen Diel, Russia analyst with regional security expertise, and Patty Cohen, NYT global economics correspondent, discuss Putin’s warning to Armenia and how Russia’s war posture shapes threats. They examine Armenia’s limited options, the politics around opposition figures, UNESCO’s role in protecting heritage, and India’s contentious census and caste questions.
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Putin's Verbal Pressure On Neighbours
- Vladimir Putin is using verbal threats to deter former Soviet neighbours from EU ties without direct military action.
- Stephen Diel explains Putin's war-footing and psychological campaigns targeting Russian-speaking populations like Narva to justify interference.
Armenia's Strategic Isolation And Distrust
- Armenia distrusts Russia after the CSTO failed to defend Nagorno-Karabakh, prompting a suspension of membership.
- Patty Cohen and Stephen Diel note Armenia's geographic isolation and lack of reliable allies beyond uneasy EU overtures.
Russia's Selective Support For Armenian Opposition
- Putin publicly champions Armenian opposition rights selectively to influence domestic politics.
- Patty Cohen identifies Samvel Karapetian as a pro-Russia oligarch whom Putin may prefer as a challenger to Pashinyan.