Nikol Pashinyan has announced that he will not travel to Russia on May 9 to attend celebrations marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Speaking during a briefing, the Armenian prime minister said he would miss the annual Victory Day military parade in Moscow due to the ongoing parliamentary election campaign in Armenia.
“I informed the Russian president about this during my visit in April,” Pashinyan stated.
Russia traditionally holds a large-scale military parade on Moscow’s Red Square every year on May 9 to commemorate Victory Day, one of the country’s most important national holidays. The event is attended by senior Russian officials, military personnel and foreign leaders invited by the Kremlin.
Pashinyan’s decision comes as Armenia prepares for parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7. The campaign is expected to be closely watched amid ongoing domestic political tensions and regional security challenges in the South Caucasus.
Relations between Armenia and Russia have experienced strains in recent years, particularly following disputes over Moscow’s role in the region and Yerevan’s growing engagement with Western partners. Despite this, Russia remains Armenia’s key economic and security partner.
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