On 24 September, Andrey Rudenko, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in Armenia on 1 October to attend the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council's session in Yerevan, reported arka.am.
He was quoted by saying that Russia and Armenia consistently foster their comprehensive allied relations and maintain their intensive political dialogue at a high level. A day earlier, Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan also confirmed this information. “He will definitely come,” he said, adding that the meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Putin is expected. Two weeks earlier the Russian ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin told the reporters that the visit “should be expected” adding that he did not have the information to absolutely confirm Putin’s presence.
A month earlier, speculations arose from different media sources that Putin’s visit would be in doubt, especially after the Russian President congratulated Armenia’s former President Robert Kocharyan on his birthday. “Dear Robert Sedrakovich, I extend my sincere congratulations to you on the 65th anniversary of your birthday. Through your long state service, you have gained respect among your compatriots and abroad, significantly contributed to the development of modern Armenia and the security and stability of the South Caucasus,” read the message. Noting Kocharyan’s great input in strengthening Armenian-Russian rallied relations, Putin wished the former Armenian president sound health and strong spirit.
A separate analysis in 1in.am called Putin’s letter a provocation: “It’s notable that Putin is creating another tension in Armenian-Russian relations just a month before his visit to Yerevan. Is this a political message that Putin might not arrive in Yerevan in October for the EAEU summit, or has the Russian president made it clear to the Armenian authorities not to expect too much from the upcoming talks with him, especially given that the gas tariff issue will also be discussed?” read the analysis.
