Mikhail Mishustin expressed concern over the fate of Russian business in Armenia: Alexander Krylov

Alexander Krylov, Chief Research Fellow at the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), commented to Alpha News on the meeting between Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and Mikhail Mishustin, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.

“Based on the outcome of the discussion between Mikhail Mishustin and Nikol Pashinyan, it can be concluded that the main thing Mishustin wanted to convey to his Armenian counterpart is that the conditions for Russian business in Armenia are causing great concern to the Russian leadership. This concerns Electric Networks, the railway, and nuclear energy. Many projects that have existed for many years are now either in a questionable state or, as in the case of the electric networks, in a situation where the assets were effectively confiscated from their owner, Samvel Karapetyan. Thus, the Russian side expressed its concern,” Krylov said.

According to the expert, it remains to be seen to what extent Pashinyan will heed Mishustin’s concerns.

“For his part, Pashinyan also acknowledged the existence of problems in economic relations and expressed hope that they would be resolved within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. Now it remains to be seen to what extent Pashinyan will heed Mishustin’s concerns and, conversely, to what extent Mishustin will be willing to accommodate Pashinyan’s wishes. However, the fact that Gagik Tsarukyan was detained the day before suggests that Armenia’s leadership will probably continue its harsh policy of suppressing any potentially dangerous opposition forces, including representatives of Russian business. Therefore, it is unlikely that we should expect any change in the Armenian authorities’ policy toward Russian businessmen, who are viewed as a significant political factor in the country’s domestic political life,” Krylov concluded.