Media: Armenian PM likely to attend informal CIS summit on Russian leader’s birthday

Armenia’s Hraparak newspaper has disclosed that the official format of Armenia's participation in the informal CIS summit remains undisclosed.

Whether it will be Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan himself or another official—the ruling circles have no doubt that Pashinyan will attend the informal CIS summit on October 7-8, Caliber.Az reports, citing the newspaper. 

"The fact is that October 7 is Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s birthday, and insiders are taking pleasure in the expectation that Pashinyan will seize the opportunity to congratulate the leader personally and thereby extend his own tenure or mitigate the risks hanging over his head,” the message says.

“Spokesperson for the prime minister’s office has confirmed Pashinyan’s participation in the BRICS summit, which will be held in Kazan on October 22-24. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron might visit Armenia on September 21, Independence Day. This ensures that neither the West nor Russia is ignored. However, it remains unclear how long this balancing act will last," the message says.

Russia will hold the BRICS Summit in Kazan from October 22 to 24, 2024. During its BRICS presidency this year, Russia has said it will focus on promoting the entire range of partnership and cooperation within the framework of the association on three key tracks – politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties.