Putin congratulates Armenian PM Pashinyan on his birthday

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent birthday greetings to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, according to the Kremlin website. Putin stated that Moscow wishes to develop relations with Yerevan, though the Kremlin's actions suggest otherwise.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent birthday greetings to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Kremlin's official website announced. According to Putin, Moscow wishes to promote bilateral relations with Yerevan.

The greeting comes at a time when Russian-Armenian relations have cooled considerably. In recent years, Yerevan has taken several steps indicating a move away from Moscow and a rapprochement with the European Union and Western countries. Pashinyan has repeatedly criticized Russia, accusing it of abandoning Armenia during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.