Media: Armenian PM instructs all state agencies to restore ties with Russian counterparts

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has instructed all state agencies to restore ties and contacts with their Russian counterparts and actively participate in joint events amid recent geopolitical changes.

The ruling Civil Contract party is waiting for Pashinyan's visit to Russia to participate in the May 9 celebrations in Moscow, believing that the meeting with the Russian leader will clarify the future fate of the Armenian government, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Yerevan-based newspaper Hraparak.

The newspaper points out that this is related to Russia strengthening its position in the region.

Let's note that Pashinyan is seeking to rebuild the strategic relationship that had been strained in recent years. However, despite Pashinyan's initiatives, Russia has remained cautious in its response.

Moscow has signalled that it is unconvinced by the Armenian Prime Minister's overtures, demanding tangible actions rather than mere gestures. A clear indication of this sceptical stance was the delay of Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko's planned visit to Yerevan, initially set for February but rescheduled for June. This delay is viewed as a sign of Russia's cautious approach, as it continues to evaluate whether Armenia's foreign policy shift under Pashinyan is genuine or temporary.

Furthermore, reports indicate that one of Moscow's key conditions for renewing full cooperation may be the abandonment of Armenia's proposed European integration referendum. The recent postponement of the referendum bill's second reading and speculation about its potential cancellation suggest that Russia is using this issue as leverage to gauge the sincerity of Armenia's pivot back toward Russia. This backdrop of tension and cautious diplomacy underlines the delicate balancing act that Armenia faces in navigating its foreign policy amid a changing regional landscape.

By Khagan Isayev