Armenian PM Downplays Problems In Russian Relations

However, a spokesman for Armenian prosecutors denied the report, saying that they were unaware of Harutiunyan’s whereabouts.

Harutiunyan is wanted in Armenia on charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 post-election crackdown.

In a separate development on September 3, Armenia’s parliament speaker, Ara Babloyan, expressed hope that Armenia will receive contracts from the Syrian government for reconstruction projects.

Babloyan made the remarks during a meeting with Syria’s ambassador to Armenia, Mohammed Haj Ibrahim.

Backed by Russia and Iran, forces loyal to the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are preparing an offensive in Idlib Province, the last stronghold of fighters opposed to Assad.

That has put Russia and Iranian firms in a position where they are expected to get contracts from the Syrian government for reconstruction projects in the war-torn country.

The United States and its allies say reconstruction assistance should be tied to a process that includes UN-supervised elections and a political transition in Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, addressing students and lecturers at Moscow State Institute of International Relations on Monday, also expressed his worries. “We are concerned that the situation in Armenia is still boiling, in particular, events that took place ten years ago are being investigated and arrests are taking place,” Lavrov said. “We believe that it is Armenia’s domestic affair and would like these domestic affairs to remain based on the country’s laws and constitution so that they can be resolved as soon as possible and Armenia can focus on creative tasks,” the Russian top diplomat added.

According to Lavrov, it is in Russia’s interest that the situation in countries with which it has allied relations and those of strategic partnership remains stable “and domestic processes remain based on the constitution so that there are conditions for economic development and social welfare improvements.” “This is what we have been trying to ensure, particularly through our integration association — the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) — and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),” he said.

“We have been keeping an eye on the events that took place after the constitutional provision, which transferred all major powers from the president to the prime minister elected by the country’s parliament, had come into effect,” Lavrov went on to say. “We took no actions and made no statements that by any stretch of the imagination could be taken as interference in domestic affairs… I cannot say that other players acted in the same way,” Lavrov noted.