Russian MP Konstantin Zatulin responds to accusations brought by  Armenia`s authorities 

ArmInfo.Member of the Russian State Duma Konstantin Zatulin, who has been declared persona non grata by Armenia's authorities, has posted the following Telegram  message. 

"It is the second day that I have been impressed. None other than the  head of the Foreign Relations Department of Armenia's National  Assembly has declared my entry to Armenia 'undesirable'.   'Regrettably, your recent public statements addressed to the Republic  of Armenia are to the detriment of the friendly relations between our  states,' he has written me. Hemingway's briefness, but without the  clarity typical of his style. What statements? What period can be  considered 'recent'? How could my statements 'harm the development of  relations between our states?'" 

"Armenian Premier Nikol Pashinyan's relatives proved more outspoken.  In a newspaper article they accused me of considering the Armenian  government responsible for the defeat in the Karabakh war and putting  the question of the plans to create corridors in Armenia's territory  to that country's premier (is it not so?). MP Hrachya Hakobyan, who  is called Mr Pashinyan's brother-in-law, has stated with joy that the  fact that Armenia has now joined Azerbaijan, which declared me  persona non grata in 2010, is evidence of the two states' showing  solidarity. And I think so as well. This solidarity is obvious. Cosa  Nostra. 'From antiquity we have been noble; from antiquity has our  dynasty been royal' as King Darius wrote in the Behistun Inscription.  If the Armenian state is 'Nikol and full stop', the reason for my  punishment is clear. Nikol Pashinyan can by no means be guilty. I am  not so much concerned over 'the recent public statements' by Nikol  Pashinyan and his teammates. I have arrived at the conclusion that  their 'recent actions' will actually result in Armenia breaking off  its relations with Russia and, if they succeed, the Armenians  severing their relations with the Russians. They have already made  Armenia's leadership break off its relations with Nagorno-Karabakh.  Putin is the only person aware of whether we have arrived at the  point of no return in our relations with Armenia's authorities. And  the meeting to be held in Sochi on October 31 will make things  clear," Mr Zatulin wrote. 

He is grateful to Armenian MPs, political parties and NGOs, as well  as to ordinary ethnic Armenians in Armenia and Russia, who are  supporting him in their messages. 

"It is dear to me. Do not think, please, I am hurt by this ban or I  have changed my attitude to the friendly Christian Armenian people. I  have not changed my attitude to the friendly Ukrainian people since  the outbreak of war, have I? Even if I had many more reasons for  that.  You do not have to be an Armenian to love Armenia and  Armenians!" Mr Zatulin wrote.