Alen Simonyan distrusts the "rhetoric, toasts, and lyricism" in Russian-Armenian relations. Interests come first!

ArmInfo. Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan expressed his  distrust of the "rhetoric, toasts, and lyricism" present in Russian-Armenian relations, noting that the country's interests come first, "as has been done a hundred times throughout human history." "I think that Russia, like any country, acts in accordance with its own interests. If tomorrow these interests dictate that they take certain steps, they won't think twice about it." He stated this in an interview with Ekaterina Kotrikadze, the head of the news service and anchor for the Dozhd TV channel, which is opposed to the Russian government and is based in exile.

Speaking about his impressions of his recent trip to Moscow, Simonyan did not find it difficult. "There was no aggression or issues that were off-limits to discussion, and as for the press, the media was much more aggressive, and that was strange," he noted. "I thought that what was said at official meetings was also voiced on official channels, but it turned out that official channels were much harsher and more reluctant to respond to what I said. Although the meetings had a completely different atmosphere and atmosphere," Simonyan emphasized, refuting Kotrikadze's "hint" that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had made any demands during the talks. "There were no demands from the Russian side during the talks with Sergey Lavrov, and I think the media is either distorting or unwilling to perceive the reality of what is happening in Armenia."

Kotrikadze, however, couldn't contain her well-known "dislike" for Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the international media group Rossiya Segodnya, attempting to draw the speaker of parliament out on specific assessments. However, the conversation turned to statements by Russian philosopher and political scientist Alexander Dugin and publicist Vladimir Solovyov on the situation in Armenia, whom, according to Kotrikadze, Alen Simonyan called "shit on a stick." "I didn't utter the word 'shit,'" the speaker of parliament said, noting, however, that it was obvious. "When the point is that you can't threaten the country at such a high level, when these people are considered mouthpieces and mouthpieces of the current government, and at the same time the government claims that these are the opinions of a few individuals, then why not respond in kind?" Alen Simonyan said.