Kremlin says Pashinyan–Putin meeting to be decided after final Armenian election results

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a potential meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be decided only after the final results of the Armenian parliamentary elections are published.

RIA Novosti cited Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as suggesting that until the completion of the electoral process, the Armenian prime minister will be focused on domestic affairs. “And then, depending on the finalization of the post-election situation, we will make a decision at the bilateral level,” Peskov said in response to a question about possible plans for a Pashinyan–Putin meeting.

Putin has notably not congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan on his party’s re-election, despite many world leaders having extended their felicitations.

Days before the June 7 elections, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that during his latest phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, they agreed that he would travel to Moscow after the elections in Armenia to hold a meeting and discuss current affairs.

Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party secured 49.825% of the vote, winning a majority in the next parliament according to preliminary results.

Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia alliance received 23.281%, while Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia alliance gained 9.934%. Preliminary figures also show that the Prosperous Armenia party is just below the 4% threshold, with 3.996%. Prosperous Armenia has also said it will contest the results, and a recount is underway.