Pashinyan Highlights Russia Visit, Domestic Land and Security Issues, Railway

On April 2, Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, spoke with journalists regarding several domestic and international issues. He remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely was not informed of the detail that only Armenian citizens can run for prime minister, emphasizing that given the scope of Russia’s international agenda, it was unrealistic to expect him to study Armenia’s constitution and laws in depth. “I simply informed him of this detail,” Pashinyan stated.

Commenting on his recent visit to Russia, Pashinyan described it as successful, noting that both sides reached concrete agreements and that bilateral relations are entering a new stage of development. Regarding statements made by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, he said he perceived no threats. “There are no threats in our words either. This is a normal working process, during which the parties present their positions,” he noted.

Addressing concerns raised by the Wings of Unity political initiative over difficulties in obtaining land in Metsamor, Pashinyan stressed that he exerted no pressure. He explained that rising rents and land prices are market-driven, influenced by wealthy participants investing heavily in elections.

Pashinyan also discussed an incident at Surb Anna Church, stating that although a person was struck, no physical injuries occurred. He did not witness the event personally but noted that State Security Service officers are authorized to use force, including weapons if necessary, to neutralize threats. “The purpose of his job is to act when there’s an attack or threat of an attack. However, assessing whether it was an attack or not is not my job,” he said. Regarding his own presence at the altar, he emphasized that there is no restriction preventing him from approaching it and explained the crowd situation at the time.

On the subject of oligarchs, Pashinyan asserted that Armenia has none domestically. He characterized Gagik Tsarukyan, head of the Prosperous Armenia Party, as a pro-Belarusian oligarch, and Samvel Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia Party, as an oligarch in Russia.

Regarding Armenia’s railway system, Pashinyan noted that while the country has the legal authority to unilaterally terminate the concession agreement with the South Caucasus Railway company, it does not intend to do so. He said that discussions in Russia covered this issue in detail, highlighting the need to preserve Armenia’s competitive advantages under the current conditions shaped by the TRIP agreement. He emphasized that Armenia values its friendly relations with Moscow and seeks solutions collaboratively.

Pashinyan further remarked that relations with Russia have a broad agenda and potential for growth. While acknowledging past issues in 2021 and 2022, he stressed the importance of moving forward with mutual respect. On the prospect of returning to work within the CSTO framework, he described positive changes as unrealistic under current circumstances.

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