Russia’s reluctance to come to Armenia’s aid may have been an intentional effort to compromise the post-revolution government and frame instability and conflict as the price of democratization.
The benefits of this strategy are not immediately clear, as the usage of mercenary forces provides neither a sense of true ambiguity towards Turkey’s involvement in the conflict nor a clear tactical advantage that would be unattainable with conventional troops.
Although this gesture was equal to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, by no means was it equitable.
The deployment of Russian peacekeepers has minimized Armenia and Artaskh’s agency in resolving the conflict and has sent a clear message from Moscow - democracy comes at the price of security and no revolution goes unpunished.