Thursday, October 30 2014

Russian Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Interparliamentary Commission Nikolay Ryzhkov is not inclined to draw any parallels between the NKR and Crimea in the light of accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).  

During a press conference following the 25th session of the Commission in Yerevan, journalists asked Ryzhkov why Russia is included in the EAEU together with Crimea and Armenia will join the EAEU without Artsakh. 

"I understand that Nagorno-Karabakh is a very sensitive matter for Armenia, but unlike Karabakh, Crimea took a decision to join Russia by means of a referendum. We couldn't forbid Crimean people to do that.  Moreover, Crimea has been a Russian territory before Khrushchyov gifted the peninsula to Ukraine under the influence of intoxicants. As regards Karabakh, I think it is necessary first of all to clearly determine its status and then to discuss the issue you have raised", Ryzhkov said to the journalists. He said that he would be glad to see Karabakh as part of the EAEU after its status is determined.    

When commenting on Russia's deliveries of military hardware to Azerbaijan, Ryzhkov said that he had repeatedly expressed his opinion about that. He pointed out that he does not know why Moscow is selling arms to Baku. "I will only say that the Council of Federation has taken no decisions on delivery of military hardware", he stressed.