Media: Moscow May Tighten Relations with Armenia Following Putin-Pashinyan Meeting
Negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Moscow on April 1 were tense, according to the Armenian newspaper Hraparak.
According to the newspaper, the Russian side considers compromise with the Armenian prime minister impossible. As a result, Moscow is considering pressure measures, including introducing entry restrictions for representatives of Armenian businesses, companies, and cultural organizations associated with the current government. It is possible that even the Armenian ambassador to Russia and his entourage could be declared "personae non gratae," Hraparak noted.
As a reminder, during a meeting with Vladimir Putin, Nikol Pashinyan declared Yerevan's de facto non-participation in the CSTO, citing the organization's inaction in the Karabakh conflict. The Russian leader responded by declaring it improper to intervene in the situation after Armenia's recognition of Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. Following this meeting, Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan suggested that the country could withdraw from the pro-Russian CSTO and EAEU alliances if Russia raises gas prices. However, he expressed hope that this would not come to pass, noting the productive dialogue between the countries' leaders.
