Armenian Speaker downbeat about Belarus president's statements

Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan has commented on the statements of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the ban on the entry of a number of Russian figures into Armenia and the opposition rally planned to be held in Yerevan on November 5.

He made the remarks during a briefing in the parliament on November 2, Caliber.Az reports citing the Armenian media.

Regarding President Lukashenko's statements made at the meeting with Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Stanislav Zas, the speaker of the Armenian Parliament expressed regret that he was forced to comment on them.

"Unfortunately, I have to comment on this issue, because I did not see any seriousness in President Lukashenko's statements. I am afraid that these were not his thoughts," Simonyan said.

While speaking about the rally planned to be held in Yerevan on November 5 by the opposition, Simonyan thinks that the opposition is guided by the slogan "let’s constantly disgrace ourselves".

"Ishkhan Saghatelyan [Dashnak, MP from Kocharyan’s faction, one of the coordinators of the so-called 'Resistance Movement' does not understand that he was entrusted with the role of a political suicide killer. I am simply shocked that he can not understand that he is being pushed to political destruction," he said.

The speaker of the Armenian parliament also added that the opposition ignores the discussion of bills, and the election of judges of the Constitutional Court, "but they come to the meetings to defend Russian politician, first deputy chairman of the committee of the State Duma Konstantin Zatulin".

While continuing to describe the topic that Zatulin is an undesirable person in Armenia, Simonyan said that he does not know if there was an appeal from the Russian side to the Armenian Foreign Ministry regarding a ban on his entry.

"However, if it is, there will be a corresponding response. I think that this decision is appropriate and belated. I think that there are still people who should realise that by trampling on Armenia’s interests, they are undesirable people in Armenia," he said.