VIDEO: Edmon Marukyan Comments on Putin-Pashinyan Meeting

Former ambassador with special assignments and former MP Edmon Marukyan has commented on the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, which took place on May 8 in Moscow. In particular, he highlighted a statement released from Armenia indicating that "agreement was reached during the meeting to withdraw Russian border guards and military posts located in the Syunik, Tavush, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, and Ararat regions during and after the 44-day war. It was also confirmed that the activity of Russian border guards at the 'Zvartnots' airport would cease."

"This is being presented in Armenia as a victory, a major achievement. However, the Russian presidential spokesperson stated regarding the same meeting that it was agreed to withdraw Russian border guards from several regions of Armenia, but it was specified that at the request of the Armenian side, the Russian border guards would continue their service on the Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Iran borders. This means that the Prime Minister of Armenia has requested Putin to keep the Russian border guards at the Armenia-Iran and Armenia-Turkey borders. Previously, Armenia did not have such an agenda to remove the Russian border guards from the Armenia-Turkey or Armenia-Iran borders. This request has not been made by Armenia; it was a requirement from the expert field," Marukyan emphasized.

"Now the question arises: What happened in the Kremlin for the Prime Minister of Armenia to request Putin that Russian border troops continue to serve on the Armenia-Iran border? Another question arises: What will figures like Jack Sullivan, Ursula von der Leyen, Macron, and advanced EU officials think about Armenia now? Armenia tells EU observers to come and monitor the Armenia-Azerbaijan border while simultaneously asking Russia to stay on the Armenia-Iran and Armenia-Turkey borders and then telling Russia to leave 'Zvartnots' and those few small posts after the war. What kind of incoherence is this? The Speaker of Armenia's National Assembly goes on and says that Russia has invaded Ukraine, implying that Russia is an occupier. While doing so, the Prime Minister requests that very same country to continue being present on our borders with Turkey and Iran. Essentially, the message inside the country is that we are moving toward the European Union, and in Moscow, we ask for something else. I am particularly interested in the issue of the Armenia-Iran border," Marukyan concluded.

For more details, watch the video.