DISINFO: The West seeks to destabilise the situation in post-Soviet territories
SUMMARY
For the sake of “inflicting strategic defeat on Russia”, the “collective West” - following Ukraine - seeks to destabilise the situation in other parts of the post-Soviet space, including the South Caucasus, undermine the alliance and partnership relations connecting Russia with the countries of the region, and destroy the existing mechanisms of collective security and economic partnership.
RESPONSE
This unfounded and recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation claim accuses an allegedly ever-aggressive West of having an anti-Russian agenda in the Caucasus and other post-soviet countries, of an attempt to encircle Russia and isolate it from other post-soviet countries. See also Russian Myths: no.5 Encirclement. The statement also advanced the claim that the West is responsible for the war in Ukraine.
Pro-Kremlin outlets promote the idea that the Caucasus is exclusively within Russia's zone of geopolitical dominance and attempt to discredit any other cooperation between the West and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
The EU has a strong interest in a politically stable and economically prosperous Southern Caucasus in full understanding with the states there. It took a prominent mediation role in negotiation and is committing to it.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has further altered the power balance in the region, creating a dangerous security vacuum and intensifying the need for renewed international mediation toward a comprehensive political settlement. The EU has meanwhile taken on a prominent mediation role in the negotiations.
In the European Council of 26-27 October 2023, EU leaders underlined their continued support for a sustainable and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on the principles of recognition of sovereignty, inviolability of borders and territorial integrity. The EU High Representative Josep Borrell called for the resumption of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and on the work done by the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
See other similar cases in our database: Pashinyan is a Western tool to squeeze Russia out of the South Caucasus; the West seeks to turn the South Caucasus into an arena of geopolitical confrontation; The West is trying to prevent normalisation between Armenia and Azerbaijan; The main goal of the West is neocolonial control over the Caucasus and Central Asia; US, EU oppress Russia's legitimate interests in the South Caucasus.