William Burns, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States of America, arrived in Armenia on July 15. 

Burns’ visit was not announced in advance and was kept secret until the last moment, which contributed to spreading conspiracy theories about this sudden and “mysterious” visit in the Armenian and Russian press. 

Russian websites spread the news 

William Burns’ visit to Armenia was first reported by the Russian website “Sputnik Armenia,” then other Russian channels, referring to their diplomatic sources. 

After that, Azatutyun Radio Station tried to get confirmation or denial from the state authorities and the US Embassy, but in vain. 

After the meeting with Prime Minister Pashinyan, only official Yerevan published photos. 

Before being appointed the head of US intelligence in 2021, Burns also worked as the US deputy secretary of state and was the ambassador of Russia to the US. 

Discussion on Russia’s Channel 1 

During the program “Время пакежет” which was broadcast on Channel 1 of Russia, along with issues related to Ukraine, Burns’ visit to Armenia and the views of Russian experts on its reasons were also discussed. 

American journalist Michael Bohm sarcastically noted that maybe it’s time for a new “color revolution,” that’s why the high-ranking official decided to visit Armenia. Another expert asserted the widely spread narrative that the British and American intelligence agencies were behind the events taking place in Armenia, and this visit should also be considered within its framework. 

According to Michael Bohm, however, Russia has nothing to worry about, because there is a Russian military base and “four thousand soldiers” in Armenia, “just in case.” 

Another expert expressed surprise as to why the official was allowed to enter Armenia at all. He reminded that Armenia “always or not, not always, from time to time” goes and asks for help from Russia, including financial. 

These statements made during the program were also included in the program of Channel 5 under the title “Russians do not understand how Armenians allowed the head of US intelligence to enter Armenia.” 

By the end of May of this year, Burns appeared on Russia’s blacklist, along with a number of other high-ranking officials. 

Other narratives from the Russian press 

Official Moscow has not yet responded to the visit of the Chief of US Intelligence. However, a number of conspiracy theories have been spread in the Russian online press, starting from Ukraine to Armenian-Turkish relations. 

According to the website news.ru, the visit of Burns, who knows Arabic, to Armenia while Biden was in the Middle East, speaks about the relevance of the latter’s visit. The site also assumed that this visit might be related to the issue of opening a “second front” for Russia in Karabakh. 

According to the website, the narrative is also being discussed that it is possible that the visit was organized to discuss the topic of confiscating the assets of the former finance minister Gagik Khachatryan and to discuss the topic of “giving a gift” to Pashinyan. In return, demanding “other services” from the Armenian authorities. This narrative was also spread in the Armenian press. 

The site also did not rule out a program related to the expected meeting of the leaders of Iran, Turkey and Russia, following this visit. 

At the end of the article, the website concluded that if Armenia abstains again during the next vote regarding Russia, it will not be a big surprise. Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Armenia has voted in favor of Russia only during the voting on the question of terminating its membership in the European Council, Armenia abstained in the other four votes. 

According to Regnum, as a result of the US “entering the game” in the region, either Baku or Yerevan will start to “feel more confident.” 

Russian pro-Azerbaijani expert Igor Korotchenko connected the visit of the Russian ambassador to Azerbaijani Shushi with the visit of Burns to Yerevan. 

The visit of the American official to Armenia did not go unnoticed in the Azerbaijani press, where it was assumed that the American spy was here in the hope of finding new sources in the form of drivers and tourists coming to Armenia from Iran and dissidents who left Russia. 

Ani Avetisyan