Authors of Contradictory Statements from Armenia Regarding Russia Must Provide Clarifications, Says Kopirkin

In foreign countries, primarily in the post-Soviet area, the expansion of Russian consular presence is a course currently being pursued by Russia. This was stated by Sergey Kopirkin, the Russian ambassador to Armenia, during an interview with Sputnik Armenia radio, commenting on the preparatory work being carried out ahead of the opening of a Russian consulate in Kapan.

“I visit Syunik quite often; I love that region. This time my visit had a special nature, considering the tragic situation created due to the displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. We perceive their pain as our own, as our connections are very deep and longstanding, and what the Armenian people are experiencing has always been perceived in Russia as something personal,” the diplomat emphasized.

Speaking about the recent surge in anti-Russian rhetoric in Armenia, the ambassador expressed confusion that those accusing Russia of pursuing self-serving interests and conspiracy against Armenians do not see the logical contradiction between their statements and the reality of what is happening.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has blamed Russian peacekeepers and the UN for the depopulation of Nagorno-Karabakh.

It is enough to observe how the economic ties between the two countries are developing; Armenian-Russian trade turnover amounted to $5 billion last year, and it is growing even faster this year, having already exceeded $4 billion in the first eight months.

In the ambassador's opinion, the authors of contradictory statements regarding Armenian-Russian relations must clarify their positions for everyone's understanding. He stated that this topic is indeed very important for our countries and peoples, which is why clarity is desirable.

“For Russia, the South Caucasus is part of our large home, as much depends on it, and it is a region of vital importance for us. It is clear that Russia has its interests, and it will promote and implement them. However, I am fully convinced that one of the most important and key interests of Russia is to ensure peace in the region, so that there are no military escalations here and that conditions are genuinely created for stable and economically efficient life,” Kopirkin concluded.

He also added that the relations between Russia and Armenia are relations between people and nations. Armenians have always played a very significant role both in the Russian Empire, in the Soviet Union, and today in the Russian state. The diplomat reminded that his alma mater, MGIMO (Moscow State Institute of International Relations), was founded on the basis of the Armenian Lazarian Institute of Eastern Languages, and this is one of many examples. Therefore, the relations between Armenia and Russia are far from being solely geopolitical.