YEREVAN, FERBUARY 18, ARMENPRESS: There was no specific intrigue during the process of presidential elections in Armenia, despite the assassination attempt against presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan. This was noted by first deputy chairman of the committee of the State Duma for the CIS and relations with Russian nationals abroad Konstantin Zatulin during interview with Armenpress. He has also noted that the main goal of his visit to Armenia is preparing materials for his TV program “Russian issue”.

“It is important for me to be in Armenia today, day of presidential elections. I have numerously been in Armenia as an observer during parliamentary and presidential elections, as well as during NKR parliamentary and presidential elections,” said director of institute for CIS countries.

He has also noted that he has little doubt about the winner of the presidential race. “Every serious expert understands that the rankings and reputations of each candidate are different, and I guess there was no intrigue in these elections, at least before assassination attempt against Hayrikyan,” Zatulin noted.

According to him, there is no stressed internal issue in Armenia, and well-known issues have their resolution recipes. “Hopefully all issue will be resolved: the economic environment will be improved, workplaces will be created and in a result the migration will also decline,” Zatulin said.

Referring to Armenia-Russian relations he highlighted the military-technical cooperation which had flourished recently.

Political figure has underlined that Armenia remains to be the closest partner of Russia in the region.