Russian Defense Minister May Visit Baku, while Moscow Offers Azerbaijan join to the Eurasian Economic Union

Just days before Armenia's parliamentary elections, the political atmosphere in the country has reached a boiling point. What began as another domestic confrontation between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's governing team and the opposition has gradually evolved into a geopolitical contest involving the interests of Russia, Europe, the United States, and Armenian society itself.

When the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union gathered in Astana on May 29, the official agenda appeared thoroughly technocratic. Artificial intelligence, digital transformation, common energy markets, industrial cooperation, and a long-term integration strategy through 2045 were expected to be the central themes of the Fifth Eurasian Economic Forum and the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

Armenia's dependence on Russian natural gas has once again come under scrutiny amid deteriorating relations between Moscow and Yerevan. Russian media outlets increasingly emphasize that the Armenian economy remains heavily reliant on Russian gas supplies, which are used not only for household consumption but also play a critical role in electricity generation, industry, and agriculture.

The speech delivered by Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov at the meeting of the Council of Heads of Security and Special Services of CIS member states became one of the harshest and most ideologically charged statements made by Russian security structures in recent months.