ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declined to comment on the accusations he and his allies have made against Russia, which "threatens Armenia's independence." During a briefing on April 2, he noted that he had nothing to add, as he always expresses his opinions transparently and publicly from the podium, giving assessments during official and unofficial meetings. "I assessed the relationship, including during my meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
I have nothing to add to what I have already said. There is a plurality of opinions in Armenia, including among members of our team," the prime minister noted. Meanwhile, it should be recalled that the Prime Minister has previously stated repeatedly that his associates and members of the government cannot hold opinions that contradict or run counter to the government's foreign policy. He made a similar statement when commenting on the dismissal of Edita Gzoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI), who dared to give the US Vice President a book about Artsakh during his visit. Following this, at the Prime Minister's direction, Gzoyan resigned as AGMI Director.
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nikol Pashinyan noted that he highly values relations with Russia, and the rich agenda of Armenian-Russian relations requires constant contacts at the highest level. "Our relations are so rich that there is a need for frequent meetings; there is always something to discuss at the highest level. Of course, our relations with the Russian Federation are very deep, they are very important to us," he said. However, Pashinyan previously stated from the European Parliament that certain forces linked to Russia and with the support of Russian oligarchs are attempting to sacrifice Armenia's independence for their own interests.