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At focus
13:57 AMT  09:57 GMT Russia’s attitude toward the people of Armenia remains friendly, but Moscow cannot remain silent about developments in Armenia, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said. “Russia has always come to the aid of the Armenian people. This remains the case today, and our attitude toward Armenia’s residents is friendly in nature. At the same time, it is necessary to make a choice. We can no longer remain silent about the processes taking place in Armenia,” he said, according to RIA Novosti. Volodin added that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is pursuing an unfriendly policy toward Russia while simultaneously benefiting from opportunities provided by Moscow. “In the opinion of State Duma deputies, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan is pursuing an unfriendly policy toward the Russian Federation, cynically using the opportunities provided by our country,” Volodin wrote on the Max platform. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin earlier stated that Moscow cannot accept the line adopted by official Yerevan regarding membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, according to which Armenia intends to remain in the bloc until it succeeds in joining the European Union. Galuzin also recalled that Armenia signed the treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union and documents on the union’s further development through 2030 and 2045.
13:55 AMT 09:55 GMT On May 22, the prosecutor submitted a motion to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) seeking consent to initiate criminal prosecution against Andranik Tevanyan, a parliamentary candidate from the “Prosperous Armenia” party in Armenia’s National Assembly elections, 1lurer.am reported. The Central Electoral Commission later stated that it had not received a motion seeking consent to prosecute parliamentary candidate Andranik Tevanyan, according to Factor.am . A parliamentary candidate enjoys immunity during the election campaign period. CEC consent is not required if the candidate is caught while committing a crime or immediately afterward. Earlier, it became known that National Security Service officers carried out investigative actions at the office of the Mother Armenia party led by Andranik Tevanyan, while the Investigative Committee launched criminal proceedings over alleged treason and espionage. According to a report received by Armenia’s Investigative Committee from the National Security Service, Armenian citizen A.T., while being a political figure supporting the Hayastan alliance during the 2021 parliamentary elections and included in the alliance’s national electoral list as a member of parliament, was allegedly recruited by foreign intelligence services during 2024. Acting on instructions from a representative of foreign intelligence services, who serves as director of the “Russia Caucasus” geopolitical center, he allegedly engaged in espionage during the same period and unlawfully collected and transferred state secret information translated into Russian concerning the course and results of closed National Assembly hearings held in April 2024, in exchange for $622,000. Authorities claim this constituted treason against Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and external security. Tevanyan was elected to parliament on June 20, 2021 through the national electoral list of the Hayastan alliance of parties, but relinquished his parliamentary mandate on August 17, 2023.
11:07 AMT 07:07 GMT The question of status in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) can only be discussed by Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a press conference. He added that under EAEU regulations, only a member state can raise the issue of its status within the bloc, Sputnik Armenia reported. “There are EAEU regulations according to which the issue of status can only be discussed by Armenia, meaning the member country itself; there is no other procedure. Any questions may arise among partners, and we will respond patiently,” Pashinyan said. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also stated on May 21 that the issue of leaving the EAEU cannot be discussed unless Armenia submits such a request and expresses such a desire. During a meeting with Nikol Pashinyan on April 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Armenia’s simultaneous membership in the European Union and the EAEU was impossible. On May 18, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk announced that the issue of Armenia’s status in the EAEU would be discussed on May 29 during a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana. According to him, it would be better if Armenia decided as quickly as possible between the Eurasian and European unions, as this would also be fairer toward Armenia’s partners in the EAEU.
11:02 AMT 07:02 GMT Prosperous Armenia party election list No. 2 Andranik Tevanyan, commenting on Investigative Committee allegations that he disclosed secret information from a closed National Assembly session to another country, said in a Facebook live broadcast that he was no longer an MP in 2024 and could not have attended a closed session, “therefore the remaining claims are absurd.” “The absurdity of this fabricated case is immediately obvious, because, yes, I was elected an MP in 2021, but in 2023 I gave up my National Assembly mandate and after that took part in Yerevan Council of Elders elections, already not as an MP. But the Investigative Committee’s statement says that I disclosed secret information regarding closed, secret National Assembly hearings in 2024. In other words, I physically could not have attended the 2024 hearings, therefore the remaining issues, some money-related matters and so on, are absurd. Since Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is engaged in state treason, he is trying to drag me into a process where he will shout the loudest: catch the state traitor. And I would advise the Investigative Committee: when fabricating a case, do it in a way that does not put you in a ridiculous position,” Tevanyan said. Investigative Committee spokesperson Kima Avdalyan responded to Andranik Tevanyan’s statement on Facebook, noting that they also know that he gave up his mandate in 2023. “If you read the statement carefully, you will see the word ‘illegal.’ That is, during 2024 the person illegally gathered information containing state secrets. That circumstance is also subject to investigation,” the post says. On May 20, during a rally in Vanadzor, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the National Security Service would send a crime report to the Investigative Committee with the expectation of initiating criminal proceedings against Andranik Tevanyan. Andranik Tevanyan is No. 2 on the Prosperous Armenia party’s election list. Tevanyan was elected a member of the National Assembly on June 20, 2021, through the national electoral list of the Hayastan alliance of parties. However, on August 17, 2023, he gave up his parliamentary mandate.
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