Will Pashinyan Kiss the Tsar's Cross?

According to the newspaper "Hraparak," there is no official confirmation yet regarding Armenia's participation in the unofficial summit of the CIS, whether it will be at the level of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan or another official. However, in governmental circles, there is no doubt that Pashinyan will take part in the CIS informal summit scheduled for October 7-8.

The issue is that October 7 is the birthday of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and officials are speculating that Pashinyan will not miss the chance to congratulate the 'tsar' in a one-on-one meeting and to 'kiss his cross.' This might serve as a means to prolong his power for some time or to fend off the threats looming over his leadership.

It's worth noting that the Prime Minister's spokesperson has confirmed that Pashinyan will attend the BRICS summit, which will take place from October 22-24 in Kazan. Additionally, the President of France may visit Armenia on Independence Day, September 21. Therefore, neither the West nor Russia has been neglected in this diplomatic juggling act. It remains unclear how long this maneuvering will last.