Kremlin criticizes unrest in Armenia

(MENAFN) The Kremlin considers the ongoing political unrest in Armenia to be an internal matter, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov. His remarks follow the recent arrests of senior clerics and a Russian-Armenian businessman accused of attempting to overthrow Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government.

Earlier this month, Armenian authorities detained Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of the Sacred Struggle opposition movement, and Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan. Both face charges of plotting a coup. Their arrests triggered widespread protests, some of which escalated into clashes with law enforcement.

The two archbishops are influential figures within the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), which has led demonstrations against Pashinyan over his controversial decision to transfer several border villages to Azerbaijan. While the prime minister defended the move as necessary for improving ties with Baku, many Armenians viewed it as a betrayal of national interests.

Authorities also arrested Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, a vocal AAC supporter, on charges of inciting the government’s overthrow.

Commenting on the unrest in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin, Peskov said that while Russia is monitoring the situation, it does not intend to interfere. “This is Armenia’s internal affair,” he stated. He emphasized that Moscow hopes for Armenia’s stability and prosperity as a friendly nation.

Peskov acknowledged the concerns of Russia’s large Armenian diaspora, saying many are “deeply troubled” by the developments.

Although Russia and Armenia share long-standing cultural and religious ties, relations have cooled in recent months. Yerevan has distanced itself from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), criticizing Moscow for not providing sufficient backing during its disputes with Azerbaijan, particularly concerning Nagorno-Karabakh.

Moscow has argued that Armenia never officially recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as its own territory, which meant the CSTO was not obligated to intervene against Azerbaijan. President Vladimir Putin previously noted that Russia had proposed territorial compromises to resolve the conflict, but Armenia rejected them.

MENAFN15072025000045015687ID1109802663