Pashinyan Used Aikido Against Putin in Bishkek

The “diplomatic aikido” metaphor describes how Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan used Vladimir Putin’s own methods and arguments to neutralize him during their meeting in Bishkek, according to Armenian and Russian channels cited in the article.

Armenia is becoming increasingly independent in its political choices. Pashinyan underscored that shift symbolically at the expanded session in the Kyrgyz capital by speaking Armenian. All the other leaders of countries that once belonged to the Soviet Union spoke Russian, and Pashinyan’s choice clearly irritated Russian representatives.

Observers quoted by Postimees say Russia is gradually withdrawing from the South Caucasus. Apart from propagandistic threats, they argue, Moscow has few tools left to preserve its influence through the use of force. Instead, Russia is increasingly being forced to accept pragmatic cooperation if it wants to avoid damaging its interests further.