Armenian Prime Minister Congratulates Putin on Russia Day as Ties Sour

June 12, 2026 Wikimedia Commons Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday congratulated President Vladimir Putin on Russia Day amid escalating tensions between the two countries. In a message published on the Prime Minister’s website, Pashinyan focused on concepts such as “independence, sovereignty and state interests” amid Russia’s economic pressure campaign on Armenia over its pursuit of closer ties with the European Union. “This significant holiday embodies the responsibility of Russian citizens for the future of their country, as well as the aspiration of the friendly Russian people toward independently choosing their state’s path of development,” Pashinyan wrote. So far, the leaders of Belarus, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Oman have also congratulated Putin on Russia Day. Russian-Armenian relations have been deteriorating since the South Caucasus nation adopted a 2025 law initiating its EU accession process. On Sunday, Pashinyan’s ruling party won the widely observed parliamentary elections seen as a barometer of his pivot toward the West. Russia accused the West of interference, while the EU welcomed the results. Putin, who congratulated Pashinyan on his 51st birthday on June 1, did not congratulate the Armenian leader on his party’s victory in the June 7 elections. Russia has rolled out a series of import bans on a variety of Armenian goods in the run-up to the vote. A sweeping ban on the import of most Armenian food, seeds, flowers, wood and fertilizer takes effect on Friday. Moscow claims its import restrictions against Armenia are based on health and safety concerns. In 2024, Armenia froze its participation in a Russian-led regional security bloc after accusing Moscow’s peacekeeping forces of failing to deter Azerbaijan’s military offensive in which Baku regained control of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2023. Read more about: Armenia , Putin , Trade Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Putin Says ‘Would Be Happy’ to Facilitate Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Deal in Aliyev Talks Tensions between Moscow and Yerevan have been high since Azerbaijan seized the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh last September. 2 Min read Putin Touts Economic Ties on Final Day of China Trip At the opening ceremony of a China-Russia trade expo, Putin hailed his country's energy ties with Beijing and promised to "strengthen" them. 2 Min read Putin Says Normalization in Yerevan and Baku's Interests Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday he hopes for "normalization" of ties between rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan who pledged not to resort to force... Russia ‘Open’ to Return of Armenia-Held Land to Azerbaijan – Putin The Armenia-controlled districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh are key parts of hampered Russian, French and U.S.-led peace talks.