Pashinyan: Armenia will not become a new Russia, responding to Medvedev's remarks

Reaction to remarks by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Security Council

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan published a response to comments by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. According to the Armenian leader, formulating an official reaction to these words took four days.

Previously, on 4 October, in an interview with Iran's State Television and Radio, Medvedev expressed concern that Armenia might "turn into a new Ukraine", calling such a scenario terrifying. Pashinyan emphasised that he believes he has communicated with Medvedev and even worked with him for a long time, so he does not understand why such statements were made now.

"We do not want to turn into a new Russia"

Commenting on the Russian politician's words, the head of the Armenian government stated: "But why these jabs and threats now? Now I can, for example, take and say that, following the same logic, someone else could say that we want Armenia not to turn into a new Russia, meaning that explosions are happening in various places in Russia".

Pashinyan emphasised that the republic should not turn into either Russia or Ukraine. On the contrary, according to him, the country is increasingly becoming the Republic of Armenia, as well as a "sovereign state".