Political analysts dispute about implications of Kazakhstan operation for Pashinyan

The removal of Armenian militaries from Kazakhstan and their short presence there are beneficial for Nikol Pashinyan, but they won't add to his popularity, Armen Vardanyan believes. The West has influenced the prompt withdrawal of the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) troops, but Armenia's reputation has still suffered, Ovsep Khurshudyan has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian Premier, who currently also chairs the Collective Security Council of the CSTO, granted the request of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokaev, to send the Collective Peacemaking Forces to Kazakhstan. Analysts in Yerevan believe that this action will damage Armenia's image as a democratic state.

The decision to withdraw the CSTO troops has to do with the stabilization of the situation in Kazakhstan, Armen Vardanyan believes. In his opinion, the President of Kazakhstan requested the help of the CSTO, that is, in fact, of Russia, as he began losing control over his security structures.

Initially, it was assumed that the CSTO mission would not be long-lasting, Akop Badalyan, a political observer, has recalled. He doesn't exclude that the rapid withdrawal of the CSTO contingent is due to the fact that the Kazakh society could not yet form a negative attitude towards the CSTO troops. "If they treat Russia as an occupant, this will lead to the loss of political influence," Mr Badalyan has stressed.

Ovsep Khurshudyan, an analyst, believes that the decision to withdraw the CSTO troops was influenced by the pressure of the West, in particular, the United States. According to his version, the use of Armenian troops in the operation was negatively perceived by the Armenian society.