Pashinyan Congratulates Putin on Russia Day Despite Kremlin’s Silence on Election Victory

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly congratulated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan or his Civil Contract party on their election victory, despite messages of support from several international leaders in recent days.

Against that backdrop, Pashinyan on Thursday sent a congratulatory message to Putin on the occasion of Russia Day, emphasizing the importance of bilateral ties between the two countries.

In his message, the Armenian prime minister described the holiday as a symbol of Russian citizens’ responsibility for their country’s future and their commitment to independently choosing Russia’s path of development.

Pashinyan also expressed confidence that the longstanding ties between the Armenian and Russian peoples, along with a mutual commitment to open and constructive dialogue based on respect for sovereignty and national interests, would continue to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The message comes at a sensitive moment in Armenia-Russia relations, which have experienced growing tensions in recent years over security, foreign policy, and Yerevan’s increasingly active engagement with Western partners.

While leaders from several countries have already congratulated Pashinyan on the outcome of Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections, the absence of a public congratulatory message from the Kremlin has drawn attention among political observers. Pashinyan’s outreach to Putin on Russia Day may be seen as an effort to maintain diplomatic engagement with Armenia’s traditional strategic ally despite ongoing disagreements.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.