Over the past two years, as Russians began moving from Russia to Armenia due to the consequences of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Armenia’s pro-Russian media outlets ave persistently referred to these Russians as “relocants” instead of immigrants...

05:30:00 27.11.2024

Over the past two years, as Russians began moving from Russia to Armenia due to the consequences of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Armenia’s pro-Russian media outlets (which comprise a large portion of the media) have persistently referred to these Russians as “relocants” instead of immigrants. This is likely no coincidence. Why should we call Indians or Africans living in Armenia immigrants, yet refer to Russians as “relocants”?

You’ll never hear a local in Armenia or any European country call an Indian or a Black person living there a “relocant.” They are always rightfully referred to as immigrants. This reveals that the media in our country, which insist on calling Russian immigrants “relocants,” are either following directives from the Kremlin to circulate this term or genuinely believe in their small minds that Armenia is part of Russia, a Russian colony. After all, the term “relocant” is typically used for people moving within the same country.

This is a subtle but dangerous anti-national propaganda that undermines our independence, which we cannot ignore. From now on, Russians living in Armenia should be considered immigrants, just as we consider other foreigners immigrants, and never as “relocants”.