YEREVAN. – Russia does not put an equality sign in its relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian Ambassador Ivan Volinkin on Sunday told reporters at the Armenian Genocide Memorial, in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan.

The journalists had asked the diplomat why is Russia selling weapons to Azerbaijan and putting a sign of equality between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and how this can impact Armenian-Russian relations.

“There is absolutely no word of equality here because Armenia is a strategic ally for Russia, whereas Azerbaijan—a strategic partner; these are completely different levels,” Volinkin said.

As for Armenian-Russian relations and their possible deterioration against the backdrop of the recent events, the Russian ambassador noted that even though emotions are dominating at present, it is very hard to chip away at Russian-Armenian relations.

“We have wonderful relations,” Ivan Volinkin said. “The heads of our states are in constant contact, and it will always be like that.”