Armenia to suffer badly if it worsens ties with Russia, Moscow warns

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said Russia expects that the Armenian leadership has no disastrous plans to split the peoples of the two countries.

She made the remarks in an interview with TASS on the margins of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

"I hope that this will not happen. I sincerely hope that no one in the Armenian leadership has such a goal and task. Because, in my opinion, it would be disastrous just for Armenia," Zakharova said when asked whether Yerevan could somehow oppose the peoples of the two countries.

The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman recalled that historically Russia "has not just shown itself, but reaffirmed itself as a reliable ally, friend, closest partner of Armenia and the Armenian people, coming to the rescue in the most difficult moments, supporting".

According to her, Russia has also always been able to rejoice in Armenia's achievements and accept its choice even when it did not share some decisions.

"But it accepted it because it respected the sovereign choice of this country," she noted.

The diplomat is not sure that "abandoning this attitude towards Armenia will benefit both [this] country and the people."

"Such relations cannot be built in a year or five [years]. This is the historical basis. This is a time-tested history. Most importantly, it's a history that comes from the soul, from the hearts of the people. It is not just opportunistic, not just prescribed somewhere in the program and given to people for implementation. This is how people in our country think, this is how they feel, they love this country and this people," Zakharova explained.

"And to redraw everything like this... I sincerely hope that no one has such plans in Armenia's leadership," she concluded.

In addition, as Gazeta.ru reported, the spokesperson explained that Russia's reaction to the Armenian leadership’s statements was caused by their inaccuracy and an attempt to "substitute facts for their reflection".

The diplomat also explained the invitation of Armenian Ambassador Vagharshak Harutyunyan to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Zakharova said that "it was not Russia that recognised Azerbaijan's rights to Nagorno-Karabakh, it was the Armenian leadership that did it, and now it is up to the Armenian people to decide how to treat it".

"But one should not put the blame and responsibility for the decisions made in Yerevan on Russia. One should not look for an enemy in Russia. Russia has never been Armenia's enemy and will never be," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stressed.