It all started with Georgia, followed soon after by the larger Orange Revolution in Ukraine. Since then, a domino effect has literally begun toppling the entire region toward the west, as the people of these countries have realized that Russia is no longer in power over them. The real fight is now between them and their own governments; a much easier battle.

I’ve talked a bit about recent events in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, but it seems Armenia is joining the list of unsettled citizens.

There are several reasons for Armenia’s distaste for Russia now. It was criticized heavily by Armenia after the closing of its trade lines for an entire two months during the Chechen school hostage crisis. Although it was simply supposed to prevent terrorists from entering the country, it put a huge dent into Armenia’s economy. That would piss anyone off.

Russia has, for its entire history, possessed rulers obsessed with the centralization of power and control. Upon losing the Soviety Union, it has obviously tried to maintain control of these satellite states through economic and political intimidation. Now that it has been shown that Russia cannot make or break the country, Armenia is looking to a much more no strings attached alliance.

NATO would come in times of military aid. The big fear of many of these countries has been security after the collapse of the Soviety Union, and they continued to look to Moscow to defend them. But the Russian military simply cannot stand up to the west, and NATO would provide much greater protection. Then the EU would guarantee Armenia trade through alternate, and probably more profitable means.

According to Safarian, the analyst, Russia????????s hasty endorsement of a rigged presidential ballot in Ukraine and its ensuing humiliation is one of those reasons. “There is a growing number of events testifying to Russia????????s weakness, and the Armenian public does not fail to notice them,” he says.

The public is taking notice. An ANCIS poll of 2000 Armenians, mentioned in the article, reveals that over two thirds of the population wishes to join the EU as soon as possible. It was nearly 100% of all political parties, and most also wanted to join NATO.

Hopefully the opposition will get its act together. Up until now, the opposition of many of the Eastern European countries has been divided into several parties with varying interests. Apparently, the leader of the most radical opposition group is in talks with two others in order to form a pro-western alliance that could be strong enough to challenge incumbent President Robert Kocharian. That is a good idea, and they are learning the lessons that have been taught by Georgia and Ukraine. The opposition needs a broad view of liberty, democracy, and free-market economy instead of being fixated on individual petty details. They can worry about that after the revolution.