Kommersant reports that Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia last week should be seen in the context of Russia’s weaking influence throughout its former territory rather than simply as a scheduled visit by a head of state.

The President of Russia, together with his Armenian colleague, Robert Kocharyan, will take part in the official opening of the Year of Russia in Armenia and attend a gala concert. The pompous protocol functions serve as a smokescreen for a very important dialogue on the burning issues of the day. Alarmed by a whole series of “Rose”, “Orange” and other revolutions, Russia is afraid of losing one of the last of its bulwarks in the area of the former USSR.

The full article can be read here.

In related news, given that it is believed that Putin and Kocharian discussed the latest developments over Karabagh, AFP reports that the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents will meet on the sidelines of a Council of Europe meeting in Warsaw on May 16 .