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“The criticism and disagreements regarding the Iskander [ballistic missile system] have several explanations,” Deputy Director of the Caucasus Institute, political scientist Sergey Minasyan said during a press conference today, September 29.

According to him, Armenia's social and political landscape has become a confrontation field for Russia and the West. “The fact that the Iskander was purchased from Russia, not from say Paraguay or Uruguay, becomes one of the elements of the wave of criticism. On the other hand, it wasn’t the Iskander that gave rise to the wave of political protests and social discontent, but the overall political situation.”
The political scientist also said that its demonstration is a serious military fact, and just like all such facts it becomes a topic for social criticism.

Besides, according to Sergey Minasyan, there is also a problem related to professional perceptions. “We have serious problems in connection with promotional activities in the society at a state level. The experts tried to clarify that that it is not a weapon of the Russian army, but of the RA Armed Forces. However, it was done after the wave of criticism took over. The international experience shows that the preparatory work needs to be done long before the display. We have a serious problem in this regard.”