Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has “chosen the path of breaking relations” with Russia.
“It must be acknowledged that Pashinyan has chosen the path of severing relations with Russia. It appears beneficial to him, maneuvering between different political currents, to gain inflated prestige in the West while putting relations with our country at risk,” Medvedev said, according to RIA Novosti.
He also stated that Pashinyan’s political course has endangered Armenia’s relations with Russia, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union, Sputnik Armenia reported.
“Apparently, he took us for fools. At the same time, he himself made a serious mistake in systemic understanding and is pursuing a policy extremely dangerous for his own country… Just think: as a result of this man’s actions, the entire Armenian people will suffer, losing the Russian market, the entire EAEU and economic ties built over decades,” Medvedev added.
He warned that the policies pursued by Pashinyan could eventually force Yerevan to purchase Russian gas at European prices, which he said are three times higher than current tariffs.
The Russian Security Council deputy chairman also suggested that Armenia’s prime minister ask citizens whether they are prepared to pay such a price.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously stated that Armenia is being drawn into an anti-Russian camp with the aim of inflicting “the most painful possible blow” on Russia.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Moscow cannot accept Yerevan’s position on membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, according to which Armenia intends to remain in the bloc only until it manages to join the European Union. Galuzin also recalled that Armenia signed the EAEU treaty and documents outlining the union’s development through 2030 and 2045.
