“A chick has fallen out of the nest”- why Pashinyan recalled the ambassador from Moscow: Konstantin Zatulin

The Armenian ambassador to Russia was recalled due to his unremarkable performance, but Yerevan doesn’t need outstanding performance, Konstantin Zatulin, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, told NSN.

Let us recall that, according to the newspaper “Zhoghovurd,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan decided to recall the republic’s ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia, Gurgen Arsenyan. According to the publication, the reason for this decision is dissatisfaction with the ambassador’s diplomatic work. Zatulin assessed his merits in the position.

“Mr. Arsenyan is a fledgling of Pashinyan’s ‘nest.’ He made all sorts of unfriendly statements about Russia and was a classic turncoat. He didn’t achieve anything particularly outstanding and didn’t enjoy any authority in Russia. One of the reasons he was removed is that Russian‑Armenian relations are not developing well today. But this is largely Pashinyan’s fault.” For him, partnership with Moscow ranks eighth, after the United States, neighboring countries, Turkey, and the European Union. “Our relations in the future will be tied not to the personalities of the ambassadors, but to the course that the Armenian government is currently pursuing,” he noted.

Zatulin added that Yerevan’s entire policy could change. “Armenia has stated that we have an ordinary partnership, while our partnership with the EU is strategic. Together with other members of the Eurasian Economic Union, we have asked Yerevan to give us a clear answer: where do they intend to be?” They are shirking this responsibility, which is already giving the public reason to collect signatures for a referendum on what will have to be chosen. Pashinyan understands that the idea of a complete break with Russia is not popular in Armenia. No one buys Armenian cognac except us; we have enormous historical and cultural ties. To abandon everything common is the prime minister’s choice, but is it the opinion of the entire people? We want to clarify this,” he emphasized.