Moscow Voices Disapproval Over Armenian Trip to Bucha
Butscha is commonly associated with Russian atrocities during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. A team of Armenian officials visit the Ukrainian village, which angers Russia even more. Moscow views this move as an openly anti-Russian gesture.
Tensions between Russia and Armenia continue to escalate due to a diplomatic confrontation regarding Moscow's war against Ukraine. Moscow's discontent arose after an Armenian delegation toured Butscha, an area of Ukraine marred by Russian troops, as shared by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova through her Telegram account on a Sunday night. She labels this as an "open act of hostility."
The small Ukrainian town of Butscha gained global attention in March 2022 when the corpses of more than 400 civilians were discovered after the Russian military's withdrawal. A delegation of Armenian officials visited the town and expressed support for Ukraine's fight against "Russian aggression." This delegation included Armenia's ambassador to Kiev, Vladimir Karapetian.
For many years, Russia has been perceived as the guardian of Armenia in the Caucasus and continues to operate a military base in the country. However, the warming ties between Armenia and the West and Russia's actions in Ukraine have led to strained relations. Yerevan notably felt forsaken by Russia during its conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. With their recent loss in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, Armenia has started to reconsider its belonging to the Moscow-controlled security alliance, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The Russian government asserts that its military doesn't commit atrocities during the war in Ukraine. In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for abducting Ukrainian children. Over 133,000 potential war crimes investigations currently exist at Ukraine's prosecutor's office. These allegations are also supported by the Russian side, as their executing military leaders are recognized with awards for these attacks.
Read also:
- Russia's criticism of Armenia's visit to Butscha is heightened due to the ongoing accusations of Russia's involvement in war crimes during the 'Attack on Ukraine'.
- In response to the Armenian delegation's visit to the site of alleged 'Russian atrocities' in Butscha, Moscow has denounced it as a provocation and an affront, likening it to an act of 'hostility'.
