Newspaper: Armenia deliberately trying to aggravate relations with Russia

Hraparak daily of Armenia writes as follows: [PM] Nikol Pashinyan's government delivered another strong "slap" to Russia yesterday. At the government meeting, a decision was made that instead of December 20, the Day of the Employee of National Security Bodies in Armenia will be celebrated on January 8. By the way, this matter was among the non-reportable drafts.

The justification notes that on January 8, 2024, the president of the republic signed the Law on Making Amendments to the Law "On Service in National Security Bodies" and the package of related laws, which provided for systemic changes in terms of the appointment of the NSS [(National Security Service)] leadership and the order of service organization, and which is allegedly causing this change. In reality, however, this is a political decision.

The thing is that December 20 was still observed as Chekist Day in Soviet times. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, December 20 continues to be observed as the NSS worker's day in many of the post-Soviet republics. After Pashinyan came to power, every year on December 20, the Soros section was criticizing Pashinyan for not giving up that day. But last year, a ceremonial meeting was convened at the National Security Service on the occasion of the holiday, in which Nikol Pashinyan was also present.

Yesterday's decision also shows that Armenia is deliberately trying to aggravate relations with Russia, even in seemingly trivial matters, in order to show loyalty to the West and show that it is taking another step in the direction of leaving Russia.