Ask those who participated – Zakharova comments on participation of Russian parliamentarians in anti-Armenian march in Azerbaijan
3 minute read
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakarova has commented on the participation of Russian parliamentarians in anti-Armenian march in Baku, ARMENPRESS reports in a media briefing with reporters Zakharova noted that Russian MFA has nothing to do with that.
“I think it would be the right thing to ask the Russian parliamentarians why they participated in that event. We have said that the Russian MFA is in no way linked with the organization of that event”, Maria Zakharova said.
The Armenian side has raised concerns over the participation of a group of Russian parliamentarians in an anti-Armenian march in Baku.
“We raise our concerns over the participation of the Russian parliamentarians in the march in Baku, which has an obvious anti-Armenian nature and is aimed at undermining confidence in the region. We are totally unaware of the motivations of the parliamentarians – what do they express solidarity with and what’s their ‘mission” in participating in such events that are part of the propaganda of the authorities of other countries? Like in the past, we are inclined at establishing bridges of friendship, sincere and allied relations and we hope that our Russian partners will give proper assessments to the participation of the parliamentarians in the well-organized anti-Armenian movement aimed at dissemination of misunderstanding and distrust”, ARMENPRESS reports Ambassador of Armenia to Russia Vardan Toghanyan told Echo of Moscow on February 27.
Armenian parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan also referred to the issue in his speech at the plenary session of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. “We highly appreciate the role of the Russian Federation as a Minsk Group Co-chair country. I have to record with sorrow that despite the high-level allied relations between our countries, as well as the consistent efforts of the Russian side aimed at the peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, some of our Russian partners yesterday participated in a strictly anti-Armenian event, which goes against the nature of preserving peace and stability in the region. Moreover, we have justified concerns with that some members of the Armenian-Russian inter-parliamentary commission participated in the event”, Mirzoyan said.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan