Pashinyan reacts to Putin skipping election congratulations

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan commented on the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not congratulate him on his parliamentary election victory during a recent phone call, saying: “He didn’t want to, so he didn’t.”

“The Russian president did not congratulate me, but that raises the question: who, then, was he talking to?” the Armenian prime minister said.

Asked how important the matter was to him personally, the PM did not respond.

Pashinyan’s remarks came after a phone conversation with Putin on July 27, 2026, initiated by the Armenian side.

They discussed bilateral economic issues, including Russian restrictions on exports of Armenian-origin goods. Pashinyan said the restrictions contradicted the legal framework of Armenia-Russia relations and Eurasian Economic Union rules, and asked Putin to take steps to resolve the issue.

Putin reaffirmed his commitment to a May 29 joint statement by leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and emphasised the need for Armenia to promptly hold a nationwide referendum on joining the EU or remaining in the EAEU.

Pashinyan responded that such a referendum would be practically possible only after Armenia formally submits an official application for EU membership.

By Jeyhun Aghazada