Just the other day, a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, coordinator of the Russian-Armenian "Lazarev Club" Konstantin Zatulin issued a statement on behalf of the organization, in which he expressed concern about the current processes around Karabakh.

The statement is standard and contains well-known and boring theses: “the Armenians of Karabakh are facing the threat of extermination”, “Azerbaijan is trying to deprive the so-called “people of Karabakh” (what kind of people!?? - ed.) of the right to freedom and self-determination.” The authors of the statement accuse the current government of Armenia of national betrayal, accompanied by constant accusations against either the former leaders of the country or Russia, as well as currying favor with historical enemies (Türkiye, Azerbaijan - ed.). Further, the statement notes an interesting thing, allegedly that “The Lazarev Club, which has brought together people of different nationalities and professions who are not indifferent to the fate of the peoples of Russia and Armenia, appeals to Armenians in Armenia and around the world with a call for unity for the sake of saving the Armenian nation, etc."

Faktyoxla Lab. has tried to clarify what the Lazarev Club is doing and why the head of this club makes such a statement.

But first, let's deal with the name of this club. It turned out that the club was named after the Lazaryan family. So, Lazar Nazarovich Lazaryan, who arrived in Russia in 1747 from Iran, begins a long and painstaking work to populate the country with Armenians.

But first, he promotes his son to the court of Empress Catherine the Great, who becomes her court jeweler. He is even officially awarded the title of "Adviser on Eastern Affairs." He seeks Catherine's decree on the resettlement of Armenians from the troubled Crimea to the fertile lands of the Rostov region (according to the current classification). Where in 1779, the city of Nor-Nakhichevan (New Nakhichevan) was founded, in the future Nakhichevan-on-Don.

Large finances, and there were several Lazaryan brothers who became Lazarevs, made it possible to buy the Russian elite, greedy for money, promote compatriots to minor but influential bureaucratic positions. Each new war, each peace treaty, began to include the resettlement of Armenians in Russia. All this was financed by the state only in part, the Lazarevs themselves paid the lion's share.

After the death of Catherine the Great and her son, the grandchildren of the Lazarevs led the resettlement of Persian and Turkish Armenians. In total, about 1 million Armenians were resettled, which made it possible for a hundred years (from 1828 to 1928) to increase their number by almost 100 times, from 50,000 to 3,000,000 (1922 census). The ideas laid down by the Lazarians in the 18th century became the driving force behind the entire Russian Armenians - advancing to power and settling the best territories, squeezing out the local population and establishing their own rules. This even worked in the USSR at the state level. The peoples were deported, and Armenians settled in their place.

Today, the focus of precisely these ideas is the Lazarev Club, created on the initiative of deputy Zatulin. It includes the Russians promoting the Armenian idea, all the richest Armenians in Russia and many famous Russians.

Thus, the Lazaryan family became the initiator and main sponsor of the settlement of the Russian Empire by Armenians from all over the world.

So, what is the "Lazarev club"?

The club's website notes that the "Lazarevsky Club" is a new informal, free and permanent platform for meetings and exchange of views between the societies of Russia and Armenia.

“The Lazarev Club will conduct its work publicly and openly, by organizing meetings, round tables and public hearings in Russia and Armenia. We hope that meetings in the Club will help to form a positive mood for further constructive work to strengthen mutual trust and allied interaction for the benefit of the peoples of our countries, in the interests of ensuring security and stability throughout the Greater Caucasus region,” the appeal on the creation of the Lazarev Club says.

The first meeting of the Club was held in Yerevan on November 30 - December 1, 2018. During its implementation, the Council of the Club was elected.

Here are some of the main players of this Council:

- Zatulin Konstantin Fedorovich. Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the creation of the Lazarev Club, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, Head of the Institute of CIS Countries (Russia).

- Ambartsumyan Sergey Alexandrovich. General Director of Concern “Monarch” (Russia).

- Balayan Zoriy Gaikovich. Writer, public figure (Armenia).

- Karapetyan Samvel Sarkisovich. President and founder of the Tashir group of companies (Russia).

- Babayan Roman Georgiyevich. Journalist, TV presenter (Russia). Member of the Moscow City Duma of the 7th convocation. Editor-in-chief of the radio station "Moscow speaking".

The mere presence of Zoriy Balayan in this Club speaks volumes. And these are just a few. Almost the entire Council of the club consists of Armenians and pro-Armenian Russians. Looking at the page about the Council of the Lazarev Club, one can find such prominent people on Russian television as Tretyakov and Shakhnazarov.

When this Club was created, it received substantial funding in the amount of 150 million rubles from the state corporations Rosoboronexport and Gazpromexport. The Club also invariably enjoys the material support of such Russian businessmen of Armenian origin as Samvel Karapetyan (Tashir group), Sergey Ambartsumyan (Monarch concern), Kamo Avagumyan (Avilon company) and others. It also includes the Institute of the CIS countries headed by Zatulin. It is not possible to get acquainted with the financial statements of the Club, but the financial statements of the Institute contain state contracts for more than 150 million with Gazpromexport and Rosoboronexport. Thus, the funds allocated for the promotion and protection of Russia's state interests are on the accounts of Zatulin's organization.

As for the Institute of Diaspora and Integration (Institute of the CIS countries), if the founder and director of the institute is the Russian politician Zatulin, then the chairman of the Scientific Council is Migranyan. It’s not even necessary to find out what this institute does, just go to its website and read analytics there, but it’s easier to just look at the countries below. Among the states, all separatist formations on the territory of the CIS are indicated, and this organization declared itself "scientific support of Russian interests."

Zatulin, being the deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots, in fact, is the official mouthpiece of Armenia and its representative in the State Duma Committee of the Russian Federation.

Here is the opinion about Zatulin in Russia itself:

“There is such a deputy in the Russian State Duma - Zatulin - a person well known in the countries of the near abroad.

First of all, by the fact that he is a propagandist of national intransigence, being in the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots. Moreover, he directs the Institute of Diaspora and Integration (Institute of the CIS countries).

Suffice it to recall that he was one of those who contributed to the split between the Ukrainian and Russian people.

Subsequently, he was repeatedly banned from entering Ukraine, and in July 2008 the authorities opened a criminal case against him under the article "Mass riots."

And these are the words of Zatulin about President of Belarus Lukashenko: “He became a freeloader, practically a parasite on Russian-Belarusian relations, a blackmailer, and in this situation, he came to a provocation with the detentions of Russians.” link

In almost all countries of the former USSR, Zatulin is considered "persona non grata".

And here is what the Armenians themselves think about Zatulin.

Thus, the chairman of the Moscow-based Dialog organization, Yuri Navoyan, sent an open letter to the Armenian authorities, in which he expressed concern about the future goals of the Lazarev Club, founded by Konstantin Zatulin. In his letter, Navoyan addressed, in particular, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the then President Armen Sarkissian, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan and Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan. “Do you know that Zatulin seeks to promote the consolidation of the overthrown forces in Armenia and their revenge?” Navoyan clearly emphasizes that the club has a pro-Kocharyan orientation.

The question of political scientist Gagik Ambaryan, which he asks in one of his interviews, is interesting.

According to Ambaryan, the problem now is as follows: “Can the Armenian authorities (Pashinyan’s team-ed.) manage the activities of this club in a way that is beneficial to them? I highly doubt it.” That is, the former authorities led this Club.

On December 13, 2019, the Third meeting of the Russian-Armenian "Lazarev Club" was held in Yerevan on the topic "The media of Russia and Armenia - a frank conversation."

From Zatulin’s speech: “I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we were given effective support in preparing for this meeting. We turned to the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, which holds competitions for non-profit and public organizations in Russia. For the first time during our meetings, this meeting of the Lazarev Club is supported by a grant that was allocated by the president of the Russian Federation. I would like to express my gratitude to all our friends and supporters. Thanks to this support, we were able to get together today and also start publishing the Lazarev Club library.”

In a word, the Russian deputy Zatulin is an ordinary henchman serving the interests of the Armenians.