ArmInfo. The Armenian authorities' decision to declare Russian MP Konstantin Zatulin persona non grata has aroused indignation in Armenia, Artsakh and across the Armenian Diaspora.
Hayk Mamijanyan, a member of the With Honor opposition parliamentary faction, has stated that "Armenia's authorities have never learned to differentiate between their own persons and national interests. First of all, I would like to note that Mr Zatulin was persona non grata in Azerbaijan, and now he is one in Armenia. Such a shortsighted foreign policy is the cause of an official note from Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Armenia has received for the first time in 30 years, with other strains in relations between the two strategic partners."
Vahram Babayan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, Artsakh National Assembly, has stated that the news about Konstantin Zatulin being declared persona non grata aroused indignation in Artsakh.
"Despite all the bans and pressure, he has always supported the Artsakh Armenians. Banning both Armenian and foreign figures engaged in pro-Armenian activities from entering Armenia will even more complicate the serious situation. Such behavior is inadmissible. This is the wrong way. Let us hope the decision will be revised," Mr Balayan said.
Armenian MP Gegham Stepanyan says that the Armenian authorities decision is a reason for serious concern.
"Konstantin Zatulin is one of the rare bold political figures who have been supporting Armenia's interests regardless of the political forces and leaders in power, despite Azerbaijan's political pressure. I would like to highlight the fact that Azerbaijan 'blacklisted' him back in 2010 for visiting Artsakh and meeting with the Artsakh leaders. I hope Armenia's authorities will revise their decision and I am calling on my teammates in Armenia not to put legal obstacles to Konstantin Zatulin's entry to Armenia and Artsakh," Mr Stepanyan said.
The Union of Armenians in Russia (UAR) has issued a statement calling on Armenia's authorities to revise their decision.
The UAR views the Armenian authorities' decision declaring Konstantin Zatulin persona non grata as a step against the Armenian people, "with Konstantin Zatulin's name written in golden letters in its history, as he is a symbol of justice and defence of the interests of Armenia and Artsakh and author of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey the Russian State Duma adopted in 1995."
In response to the Armenian authorities' decision, Mr Zatulin expressed surprised that it was Armenia's Parliament rather than Armenia's foreign office or law-enforcement agencies that declared him persona non grata.
"The decision itself is evidence of the Armenian authorities' new course. Of course, I have a lot of friends in Armenia, but the masts have been pulled off, but my personal attitude to Armenians and Armenia has no changed. In this situation the real malefactors could have been found inside the country - and there is enough of them, you can be sure - but such ones are not Russian Duma members, and I am among them," Mr Zatulin said.