Kremlin: Armenian PM to miss CIS summit but join EAEU talks remotely

The Kremlin has confirmed that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will be unable to attend the informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg in person due to testing positive for COVID-19 but is expected to participate in the upcoming EAEU summit via video link.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov shared the update during a briefing, noting that Pashinyan had informed the Kremlin in advance about his COVID-19 diagnosis, which led him to self-isolate, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Peskov added that while the Armenian leader would miss the informal CIS summit, his participation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit scheduled for the following day was still anticipated via videoconference.

"Unfortunately, Prime Minister Pashinyan will not be able to attend the informal CIS summit in person due to a positive COVID-19 test. However, we hope he will be able to join the EAEU summit via video link," Peskov said, emphasizing emphasizing Armenia's significant role in the organization. "This is very important. Armenia is a very important participant in the organisation," he stressed.

Pashinyan himself confirmed his absence from the CIS summit, citing his positive test results and his decision to isolate. While he worked remotely for the past two days, he later received a negative test result and returned to his regular working routine. The Armenian Prime Minister had previously stated on social media that he would consult with colleagues before deciding whether to attend the EAEU Supreme Economic Council meeting.

The informal CIS summit is scheduled for December 25, with the EAEU summit to follow on December 26. The CIS summit will be held at the Igora ski resort in the Leningrad region, near St. Petersburg, and is traditionally a platform for heads of state to discuss regional issues and bilateral relations.

Asked about the agenda of the CIS meeting, Peskov explained that, as an informal summit, it does not have a fixed agenda. "The heads of state usually take this opportunity to exchange views on current issues within the Commonwealth and regional matters," he said.

By Tamilla Hasanova