Armenia cannot afford to be sanctioned over cooperation with Russia – PM Pashinyan

May 17 2023

The Head of the Armenian Government, Nikol Pashinyan, said his country could not afford to fall under international sanctions due to its cooperation with the Russian Federation.

He said this in an interview with the Czech publication Respekt, Ukrinform reports with reference to Armenpress.

Pashinyan has noted that Armenia tries to be as transparent as possible as regards sanctioned goods. "We cooperate with the EU, U.S., and even with Russia itself," he said.

Pashinyan added that, after sanctions were imposed on Russia over the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, new logistics routes were created for many goods, including through the territory of Armenia.

Read also: Fighting resumes on border of Azerbaijan and Armenia

"Wherever there is an opportunity, we are happy to meet Russia’s demand. Sanctions are our ‘red line.’ And we say this very clearly to Russia: we do not want to harm you but we cannot afford to fall under sanctions ourselves," said Pashinyan.

As reported earlier, Armenia’s ruling party has neither the desire nor the intention to detain the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, should he arrive in the country, despite the fact that the Constitutional Court recognized the obligations established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as consistent with the country's constitution.

 

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS