Pashinyan calls Moscow trip ‘very successful’ despite Putin’s warnings
Putin, speaking at start of meeting, cautioned Armenian authorities against disqualifying what he described as pro-Russian opposition figures
YEREVAN, Armenia (MNTV) — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday described his latest visit to Moscow as “very successful,” despite unusually blunt warnings delivered by Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the Kremlin.
“We reached concrete understandings in all areas of our agenda, from culture to military-technical cooperation,” Pashinyan told journalists, without elaborating. Official readouts of the talks also did not detail any specific agreements.
Putin, speaking at the start of the meeting open to the media, cautioned Armenian authorities against disqualifying what he described as pro-Russian opposition figures or parties from upcoming parliamentary elections.
He referenced individuals “despite holding Russian passports,” in an apparent nod to Samvel Karapetian, a billionaire facing prosecution after criticizing Pashinyan’s stance toward Garegin II.
Pashinyan responded that Armenia’s constitution bars dual citizens from holding parliamentary seats or the premiership, suggesting Putin may not have been aware of the legal restriction.
“The Russian president, especially considering the scale of his country and the agenda he is dealing with, could not have gone into details even if he wanted to,” Pashinyan said.
“I think he was not informed about that nuance.”
Karapetian’s movement has emerged as a key challenger to the ruling Civil Contract party ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7. Pashinyan did not clarify whether any opposition groups could be barred from participating.
The issue comes amid broader concerns raised by the Armenian government over potential external interference. Yerevan has requested the European Union deploy a “hybrid rapid response team” to support election integrity, citing possible hybrid threats.
Putin also reiterated Moscow’s warnings about the economic implications of Armenia pursuing membership in the European Union, noting the country’s dependence on Russia for trade and discounted energy supplies.
The two leaders additionally clashed over Armenia’s recent foreign policy moves, including Yerevan’s recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh and its decision to freeze participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization.
Despite the tensions, Pashinyan maintained that the visit produced meaningful progress across multiple areas of bilateral cooperation.
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