Russian policy, Russian Armenians and Armenia: ethnic minority or political leverage?
Russian policy, Russian Armenians and Armenia: ethnic minority or political leverage?

Summary/Abstract: The 2018 “Velvet revolution” in Armenia has raised numerous questions regarding its possibleimplications for Armenian-Russian relations. Given that there was a tendency for revolutions in post-Soviet countries to significantly influence their relations with Russia, it would be easy to jump to farreachingconclusions about Armenia’s possible foreign policy changes. This paper explores thepotential of the diasporic influence of the Armenian community in Russia over Armenian-Russianrelations in the light of the Russian policy towards further consolidating its control over post-VelvetRevolution Armenia. The study is based on qualitative research methods elaborating an in-depthcase analysis through process tracing. It posits that Armenia remains highly susceptible to thediasporic influence, emanating particularly from the Armenian community in Russia, that, along withother political and economic constraints, determines Armenia’s unwavering allegiance to Russia. Indoing so, the paper aims to enquire into the potential for the Armenian Diaspora to influencehomeland’s foreign policy.

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