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On October 9, the Washington Times newspaper published an article by Adam Ereli on Armenia’s political life. It is called “Anarchy in Armenia“. The article was covered by Armenian media, particularly, “Aravot”, “Hraparak”, and Tert.am, as well as Azerbaijani websites day.az and axar.az.
It creates a very negative picture of the political events in Armenia. According to the author of the article, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan “systematically disrupts and dismantles Armenia’s governing institutions” and “resorts to the thuggish tactics that he so piously decries.” The author compares Pashinyan with several authoritarian leaders in Eastern Europe, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
By getting acquainted with the content of the article, one can surely say that it has been ordered. First of all, let us address “Washington Times” newspaper. In the United States, this right-wing conservative newspaper is known for publishing conspiracy theories such as fake information on Barack Obama’s birthplace and his being Muslim.
As for the author, Ereli was the US Ambassador to Bahrain (2007-11), and now is the Vice President of Mercury / Clark & Weinstock lobbying and consulting center. He is known especially as a lobbyist defending Qatar’s interests, as well as an anti-Iranian lobbyist.
Over the last few years, he has published only one article about Armenia. In February 2016, the American Forbes magazine published an article titled “Putin’s Newest Satellite State“, in which the Russian military presence in Armenia is represented as a threat to US interests and NATO. At the end of the article, “Forbes” reveals that the Turkish Institute for Progress is among Ereli’s clients. It is an organization promoting Turkey’s interests with the United States. According to American-Armenian editor Daniel Gusagchian, it is known for its anti-Armenian propaganda.
The American-Armenian columnist at Asbarez, Garen Yegparian, believes that the article published in the Washington Times may be the order of ex-President Robert Kocharyan. Recall that in September, investigative journalist Grigor Atanesyan revealed that Kocharyan had turned to British lobbying services.
Hovhannes Nazaretyan
