Speaker of Parliament dismisses possible ramifications of Pashinyan attending Moscow WWII Victory Day parade

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s expected participation in the Moscow Victory Day parade cannot impact ties with the EU, a senior official has said.

Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan was asked by reporters on Tuesday whether Pashinyan’s visit to Moscow for the May 9 Victory Day parade could cause negative reactions from the EU. 

Simonyan said that Armenia’s stance to participate in the event stems from the fact that the victory in the WWII is also the victory of the Armenian people.

“The May 9 victory is also our victory, 300 thousand Armenians were killed for that victory, and many Armenians fought in the ranks of the resistance. It is one of our days of pride, and I think that the prime minister’s participation can’t anyhow have anything to do with the EU or other issues,” Simonyan said when asked about the EU’s possible reaction to Pashinyan’s Moscow visit.

Simonyan also pointed out the fact that many EU leaders have been visiting Moscow and meeting with President Putin. 

Armenia has its stance, while the EU officials have theirs, Simonyan said.

“In interstate relations, be it with the EU, with Russia or any other country, Armenia has its own stances which we maintain and advance. Perhaps some country doesn’t like this, perhaps some other country wouldn’t like any other step, but pardon me we have our own interests, vision and path,” Simonyan said.

The European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas earlier warned European leaders against participating in Moscow’s celebrations on May 9, inviting them to show solidarity with Ukraine instead.

Earlier in March, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during a phone call with Putin, said he accepted the invitation and would attend the May 9 celebrations.