Armenians worry about a potential shift away from Russia amid their government's disappointment with Kremlin's alliance. Historical conflicts with Turkey and recent aggression from Azerbaijan have left the nation on high alert, prompting a strong desire for foreign alliances to safeguard its territorial integrity.
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00:00The bestsellers here are these badges, including those with a Z, the notorious symbol of Russia's
00:07invasion of Ukraine. Many of the customers are Russian soldiers from the nearby military
00:13base. But we are not in Russia. This is Armenia. The shopkeepers are worried about their business.
00:22They don't want to be filmed.
00:26After the war in Ukraine began, our business dropped slightly because the soldiers were
00:31taken from here to Ukraine.
00:35As more Russian soldiers enter the shop, we are told to leave.
00:42There are many such shops here in Gyumri, the second biggest city of Armenia.
00:49This is where Russia maintains a military base. It's a vulnerable spot for Armenia.
00:55We are only about 10 kilometers from the border with Turkey, historically a hostile neighbor.
01:03We are not allowed to film here, but we can get close enough to see Putin's message
01:08at the entrance. It says Russia's growing military power guarantees peace on the planet.
01:17But for Armenia, it has felt true. It long depended on Russia as a strategic partner
01:23to protect against Azerbaijan and Turkey.
01:28But now Prime Minister Pashinyan is poised to take Armenia out of the Russian-led security
01:33alliance, CSTO.
01:36The members of that alliance are not only failing to carry out their responsibilities
01:40according to the agreement, but they are also helping Azerbaijan plan a war against us.
01:49Armenia seems to be at a crossroads.
01:52It is looking less towards Russia for security starting to turn to the West. In fact, Armenia's
01:58Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan criticized Russia for failing to stop Azerbaijan taking
02:03over Nagorno-Karabakh last year. He said, depending on only Russia for security had
02:09been a strategic mistake and is telling Russian soldiers to leave.
02:15There is no plan to close the Dumri base yet. Soldiers have been here since 1941, housed
02:22just across the road.
02:25But Russian troops have started to withdraw from the East, where they have been strengthening
02:30the border with Azerbaijan. Some people here are concerned.
02:38If the Russian army leaves, we'll be attacked right away, both by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
02:45Thank God they're here, so we live freely and well.
02:53But after Azerbaijan took over Nagorno-Karabakh last year, many lost that trust in Russia.
02:59And like their government, are looking West for answers.
03:06If there were NATO soldiers, it would be better. Our opponents would be more afraid.
03:12For some Russians living here, that change of heart is worrying. Many like Tatyana came
03:18here after Russia invaded Ukraine to save their men from being drafted to fight.
03:35She's an English teacher who fled with her husband and son. But she's concerned. The
03:40complicated situation here may mean they have to leave again.
03:45I don't know from which side this threat can come. I have no idea. I wish I knew that.
03:54But it's such a murky area. I try not to think about it much, because it worries me a lot.
04:02Because I realize that I don't have a simple solution.
04:06So what's next for the people in Armenia as it attempts to diversify foreign policy and
04:12looks towards the West?
04:14If we imagine that Armenia in any time will be much more closer to the EU, to be a candidate
04:19for the EU membership or to be a member of EU, of course in such moment Russia will decide
04:28to make offensive against Armenian government or not, to take the power here by the weapon
04:33or by the military troops, to make coup d'etat or not, or will decide to remove troops from
04:39here.
04:41As Armenia looks for new partners, its future will depend on geopolitical shifts in the
04:47region and its ability to balance the demands of different powers.