Kremlin: Pashinyan to join EEU summit via video link amidst health concerns

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was previously diagnosed with COVID-19, will participate in Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) summit via video link on December 26.

According to Peskov, first, there will be a meeting in a narrow format, followed by a broader session, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“In the narrow format, the press will be able to hear the opening remarks of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and then the statement of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who will take part via videoconference," said the Kremlin spokesman.

The broader session will be closed to the press, and following its conclusion, the heads of state will continue their discussions over a working lunch. Peskov emphasized that the EAEU has many issues on its agenda.

Thus, the summit of EEU, initially set to take place in Yerevan, Armenia, on December 25, has commenced in St Petersburg, Russia, following Armenia’s refusal to host the event.

Despite Armenia holding the rotating presidency of the EEU, this marks the second occasion this year that the summit has been relocated from Yerevan.

The meeting is now being hosted on Russian soil at Armenia’s request, though Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is presiding over the discussions, as confirmed by Yury Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Armenian officials, including Pashinyan’s office and the foreign ministry, have yet to provide a detailed explanation for their decision to shift the summit's location.

By Aghakazim Guliyev