It Is Obvious That It Was a Threat: Alexander on Russia's Arms Sales to Azerbaijan

Parliament Vice President Vahagn Alexander stated that Russia's sale of $5 billion worth of arms to Azerbaijan is an obvious threat to Armenia.

“You were in power or part of the government when Russia sold $5 billion worth of arms to Azerbaijan, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) had a faction in parliament throughout this time. $5 billion of lethal weaponry has been provided to Azerbaijan. During question time, the Republican faction, the Minister of Defense, or coalition partners could have been asked whether this was a threat or not,” Alexander said during a National Assembly session, responding to a question posed by “Armenia” faction MP Kristine Vardanyan regarding whether Russia poses a threat to Armenia.

“Was the sale of $5 billion worth of weapons a threat or not? I’m asking you, Ms. Vardanyan. It is obvious that it was a threat. How did you confront that threat? Let me tell you how: You and your Republican faction colleagues said, ‘this is business.’ This is how you confronted that threat. What’s the deal? It’s business, right? Just as we say now that fish farming and fish product exports are business, you said the same about the $5 billion worth of lethal weapons exported to Azerbaijan,” Vahagn Alexander noted.