Pashinyan: history of Armenian-Russian relations has certain  institutional traditions, and we are within those traditions

ArmInfo. During the events of September 2023, the highest-ranking representatives of the Russian  Federation directly called on the citizens of Armenia to go to the streets and overthrow the elected legitimate government. Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview with France 24. 

As he noted, Russian TV channels, not for a few days, but for 6  years, in fact, have been carrying out systematic and consistent,  purposeful anti-propaganda against the Armenian government, the  elected authorities and him personally. 

"No matter if it continues or not, the people of Armenia have shown  that they are not going to give up their sovereignty, independence,  and democracy and will be consistent in claiming their territorial  integrity, establishing normal relations with their neighbors, and in  terms of implementation of the peace agenda, as well as the  "Crossroads of Peace" project, also in terms of deepening further  relations with the European Union,"  emphasized the head of the  Armenian Cabinet of Ministers.

Answering the question about whether the Prime Minister of the  Republic of Armenia communicates with Russian President Vladimir  Putin, Nikol Pashinyan answered in the affirmative. "Yes, we had  contacts and talked in December," the Armenian Premier said.

Speaking about trust in the Russian leader, Nikol Pashinyan said: "  You know, we have interstate relations, and Armenia and Russia have a  long history of relations. The history of those relations has certain  institutional traditions. We are within those traditions," the PM  noted.

Answering the question about whether Armenia continues to consider  Russia's war in Ukraine just, Nikol Pashinyan noted: "I said that the  Alma-Ata declaration is very important for us, because what is the  Alma-Ata declaration about? The Declaration of Alma-Ata is about two  key things. Moreover, that declaration of Alma-Ata was signed by  Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan. By the way, that declaration of  Alama-Ata started with the Belovezha Accords, which was signed by  Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. That agreement, which was later joined  by another nine former Soviet republics in Alma-Ata, is about two  things: that the Soviet Union ceases to exist and, secondly, that the  signatory Soviet republics become independent states, recognize each  other's territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. Now, with  the spirit of the Alma-Ata Declaration, which is also very important  for our security, we see that what is happening in Ukraine is a  violation of the Alma-Ata Declaration, and we are, in fact, seriously  concerned."

Speaking about the possibility of Yerevan joining sanctions against  Moscow, Nikol Pashinyan noted, " We don't have such a regime of  relations: to join or not to join, but on the other hand, we take  into account the existing sanctions, because it's not so that we are  pressured or demanded, but if we do not keep the sanctions, it will  affect our relations with those countries who impose these sanctions.  And we attach importance to our relations with those countries.

I am very glad that you ask that question, because, in particular,  there are accusations from time to time in the European Union that  Armenia does not comply with the sanctions, that Armenia violates the  sanctions regime, but I can say that during this time, for the last  time in 2023, we had several delegations from the European Union and  the United States, the purpose of which was to see how the Republic  of Armenia adheres to its international relations and obligations,  how it relates to these sanctions. And it should be noted that  neither the European Union nor the United States of America have made  any reservations towards us. On the contrary, they officially  recorded that they have no reservations towards the Republic of  Armenia in the context of sanctions.

But since this is not talked about much, we don't raise this topic  too much, so to speak, because it is a working issue, unfortunately  in a number of EU countries and also in the media, statements are  sometimes made to blame Armenia on the basis of misinformation,  counter-propaganda provided by some circles about Armenia. But I say  again, it has been officially recorded by both the European Union and  the United States of America that there is no ground to blame Armenia  in this matter," the head of the Armenian Cabinet of Ministers  concluded.