Moscow rejects claims of Russian campaign against Pashinyan

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has commented on reports in Western media alleging that Russia is conducting a campaign against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Zakharova urged observers to focus instead on the Armenian leader’s own conduct toward citizens, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“Western media have claimed that Russia has allegedly launched a campaign, as they put it, against Pashinyan,” she said.

Zakharova referenced what she described as examples of Pashinyan’s interactions with Armenian citizens, including remarks directed at a woman and a man who had attended a rally.

She said: “A woman who, as he said, should be grateful that her head was not smashed in a neighboring toilet around the corner; and this man — my heart truly aches — look at this footage — whose grandson was killed and who came to a rally at Pashinyan’s own call and asked a question, but was accused of coming there for $550.”

Zakharova questioned the framing of the situation in relation to Russia, stating: “Are there no limits to cynicism when this situation is being imposed on Russia? What does Russia have to do with it?”

“No, it is not us — it is Pashinyan,” she concluded.

By Vafa Guliyeva