Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said there will be no escalation in relations between Armenia and Russia, rejecting opposition claims about rising tensions.

He accused opposition figures, including ex-president and Armenia Alliance leader Robert Kocharyan, Strong Armenia party leader Samvel Karapetyan, and Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan — all running in the June 7 parliamentary elections — of trying to provoke such tensions.

Speaking at a press briefing, Pashinyan ruled out the possibility of any escalation between Armenia and Russia.

Pashinyan, referring to the three opposition figures, said: “They are doing everything so that there will be escalation between Armenia and Russia.”

“There will be none, first because quarreling with Russia is not on our scale; we are a small, modest country. On the other hand, we are a full member of the EAEU. Kocharyan also said that he expects Russia to create problems. These are cheap provocations; they will not succeed,” Pashinyan said.