Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan at the Kremlin during a working visit to Moscow, where discussions focused on elections, regional issues, and Armenia’s geopolitical direction.
Pashinyan arrived in the Russian Federation on April 1 for the visit and was welcomed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport.
During the meeting, Putin stressed that all political forces in Armenia, including those seen as pro-Russian, should be allowed to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
“We would very much like all these political parties and politicians to be able to take part in the domestic political process during the elections,” Putin said.
He also pointed to the detention of certain figures holding Russian citizenship, in an apparent reference to Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetian, who is expected to be a key opposition contender in the June 7 elections.
This issue is raised amidst broader concerns from opposition groups regarding potential restrictions on participation, particularly following the Armenian government’s request for a European Union monitoring mechanism ahead of the vote.
Putin also reiterated Russia’s warnings regarding Armenia’s potential accession to the European Union, stating that such a move would be incompatible with continued membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.
“Simultaneous membership in the Customs Union with the European Union and the EAEU is impossible,” he said.
He further emphasized Russia’s economic role, noting that it remains Armenia’s largest trading partner and supplies natural gas at significantly lower prices than those seen in Europe.
Pashinyan then indicated that Armenia will continue attempting to balance its relations with both blocs, while acknowledging that a future decision may become necessary.
“As long as there is an opportunity to combine these two agendas, we will do so,” he said, adding that ultimately the decision will rest with the citizens of Armenia.
The talks also addressed regional security and the aftermath of the Artsakh conflict, particularly the role of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Putin stated that the CSTO did not intervene in the Artsakh situation because Pashinyan had already acknowledged in 2022 that the region is part of Azerbaijan.
“After you recognized in Prague in 2022 that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, it would have been completely inappropriate for the CSTO to intervene in what had effectively become an internal Azerbaijani matter,” Putin said.
He described Artsakh as the most sensitive issue and noted that Armenia continues to raise concerns regarding the CSTO.
“We know that you and your colleagues have had, and still have, questions and certain claims regarding the CSTO. We regularly return to this topic,” he added.
Putin also touched on the issue of Artsakh’s reintegration, suggesting there may have been underlying reasons for the developments.
“If it is considered part of Azerbaijan, I am not evaluating whether this is good or bad in terms of organizing peaceful life, but I believe there may have been reasons for it,” he said.
Meanwhile, protests were held during the visit.
Hundreds of Armenians gathered outside the Armenian Embassy in Russia, holding posters depicting Pashinyan as a demon and chanting slogans such as “The Church is the foundation of Armenian national identity.”
Despite visible tensions, both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue as Armenia navigates a complex political and geopolitical landscape ahead of elections.
