Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said Yerevan does not rule out taking its dispute with Russia over the management of the South Caucasus Railway to an international court if the issue cannot be resolved through negotiations. At the same time, he stressed that the Armenian authorities hope to settle the matter through talks.
On December 11, a protest took place in front of the Armenian Embassy in Moscow. Participants demanded that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was attending a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union Council, release persecuted clergy.
About 300 people, including clergy, activists, and members of the "SVO," gathered on Armenian Lane. Protesters declared the arrests of the clergy and businessman Samvel Karapetyan illegal, accusing the Armenian authorities of unconstitutional actions. Participants held posters with slogans in support of the Armenian Apostolic Church and calls for the release of those detained.
Among those detained, whose release the protesters were seeking, were Archbishop Mikael Ajapayan, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, Priest Garegin Arsenyan, Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Priest Paren Arakelyan, and Bagrat Galstanyan.
The rally took place against the backdrop of Pashinyan's statement that Armenia's withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is not yet on the table, but that the country is striving for EU membership.