Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has embarked on his first official visit to Russia since securing re-election, traveling to the city of Yekaterinburg. The purpose of his visit is to participate in the annual Innoprom industrial exhibition and engage in discussions with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
This visit occurs against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Armenia and Russia, particularly after Moscow imposed restrictions on the importation of several Armenian products, citing health and safety concerns. Armenia has responded by asserting that these measures have had an adverse impact on its economy and trade sectors.
During his time in Russia, Pashinyan reiterated Armenia’s dedication to maintaining strong relations with Moscow and emphasized the importance of Armenia’s involvement in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). While acknowledging the existence of bilateral issues, he expressed optimism that the discussions would serve as a platform to address and resolve these concerns.
Relations between the two countries have been increasingly strained following the 2023 conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. In this context, Armenia has been seeking to strengthen its ties with the European Union while continuing its dialogue with Russia.