Now we are going through quite a difficult period in our relations with our friendly, brotherly Armenia. Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, said this in an interview with Argumenty i Fakty newspaper.

"It is even more than brotherly, as more Armenians live here [in Russia] than in Armenia itself. And, by the way, the economic activity of the Russian Federation citizen Armenians still makes up a very large percentage of the total budget of Armenia. People transfer money [from Russia to] there; it is about several billion dollars a year," added Peskov.

According to him, "Unfortunately, the Caucasus region attracts the attention of various extra-regional forces."

"We are convinced that the participation of these forces should be strictly limited, as it is not able to bring stability and prosperity there. Therefore, we hope that Yerevan will have political will to continue the development of our relations, and we will successfully pass this difficult period," added the press secretary of the Russian president.