Armenia maneuvers between Russia and the EU within the framework of a "balanced foreign policy"

Armenia maneuvers between Russia and the EU within the framework of a "balanced foreign policy"

Armenia does not intend to end the presence of Russian troops in the country. At the same time, an EU monitoring mission is located on its territory, which monitors the situation on the border with Azerbaijan. This was stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the GLOBSEC-2025 forum in Prague.

According to him, Yerevan has very close cooperation with the European Union.

"But on the other hand, we do not have the task of breaking off relations with Russia, because our foreign policy is balanced," he said.

At the same time, Pashinyan admitted that Armenia cannot be a member of both the EU and the EAEU at the same time.

"At some point in the future, a decision will need to be made, but it is very important that it is made by the citizens of Armenia - of course, under the leadership of the government and parliament," the prime minister shared.

Последние новости
Georgia again rejected calls to join anti-Russian sanctions
Politics
Georgia again rejected calls to join anti-Russian sanctions
25 February 2026

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze criticized Brussels' demands to join sanctions against Russia. He said these calls were inappropriate, given that the EU itself is a major importer of Russian products.

Ruben Vardanyan Drops Appeal Against 20-Year Sentence in Azerbaijan
Human rights
Ruben Vardanyan Drops Appeal Against 20-Year Sentence in Azerbaijan
25 February 2026

Billionaire and former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister Ruben Vardanyan, sentenced in Baku to 20 years in prison, rejected the legal force of the ruling and dropped his appeal. His family explained that this decision stemmed from the fact that, in their view, the trial was a "staged performance" rather than a proper trial: the hearings were held behind closed doors, without access to independent observers, and the prosecution's motions were ignored. The full text of the verdict was also not released.

Azerbaijani political prisoners appeal to the European Commission to address human rights in the country
Human rights
Azerbaijani political prisoners appeal to the European Commission to address human rights in the country
25 February 2026

A group of imprisoned activists and journalists from Baku's Penal Colony No. 2 has appealed to the President of the European Commission. They demand the implementation of European Parliament resolutions calling for the release of Azerbaijani political prisoners.

Chechnya Leads in Lowest Alcohol Sales
Economy
Chechnya Leads in Lowest Alcohol Sales
25 February 2026

In 2025, residents of the North Caucasus regions consumed the least amount of hard liquor in Russia. The lowest official retail sales figures were recorded in Chechnya (0.01 liters per capita). Other republics of the North Caucasus Federal District also demonstrated modest figures: Ingushetia - 0.7 liters, Dagestan - 2.2 liters, Kabardino-Balkaria - 2.6 liters, North Ossetia - 3 liters, and Karachay-Cherkessia - 3.4 liters. Experts attribute this decline to the prevalence of cultural and religious restrictions, as well as a preference for low-alcohol beverages.