Newspaper: Russia tests Pashinyan’s loyalty as key diplomatic visits delayed

As Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attempts to recalibrate Yerevan’s ties with Moscow, Russia appears to be testing his sincerity before making any major diplomatic moves.

According to the Yerevan-based Hraparak daily, Pashinyan’s government has taken steps to defer the European integration referendum by two months and revive inter-ministerial relations with Russia in an apparent effort to appease Moscow. However, Russia remains sceptical of these gestures and is reportedly delaying high-profile visits to assess how Armenia will proceed.

“Pashinyan decided to curtsy to Russia again, whose position is strengthening today. This was the reason for postponing the ‘euro-referendum’ project for two months and taking measures to get closer to Russia, in particular, the instruction to restore inter-ministerial relations,” the newspaper writes, as cited by Caliber.Az.

One key indicator of Moscow’s stance is the postponement of Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko’s visit. Initially expected in late February, her trip has now been rescheduled for June 5-6. Hraparak reports that Russia wants to observe Pashinyan’s next moves, particularly whether he will attend Victory Day events on Moscow’s Red Square on May 9.

According to the daily, Armenian government sources believe Pashinyan is likely to attend, noting that he participated in 2023 and, in 2024, attended an Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Moscow on May 8 before returning home.

“Russia does not believe in Pashinyan's sincerity, and the postponement of the visit of Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko is reportedly due to the fact that they want to test the sincerity of Pashinyan's actions and understand how they will continue to cooperate with the current Armenian authorities,” the report states.

Before Matviyenko’s visit, Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan is scheduled to travel to Russia on April 17-18 for a CIS Assembly session marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. Additionally, discussions are reportedly underway regarding a potential visit by State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin to Armenia.

Further strengthening Russian diplomatic presence in Armenia, a new Russian consulate is set to open in Kapan (Gafan - ed.) by May, according to the newspaper.

With these developments, Moscow appears to be keeping a watchful eye on Pashinyan’s balancing act, weighing Armenia’s recent diplomatic manoeuvres before deciding on its next course of action.

By Tamilla Hasanova