YEREVAN. – The Hraparak daily’s sources at the Armenian government informed that Russian Federation (RF) President Vladimir Putin’s long-awaited visit to Armenia was replaced by RF Defense Minister, Army General Sergey Shoygu’s and Collective Security Treaty Organization Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha’s joint visit to the country on Army Day.      

“They [that is, Shoygu and Bordyuzha] had brought along close to forty representatives, from a variety of domains of RF, as a symbol of Russia’s support in the presidential election [to be conducted in Armenia on February 18].

Furthermore, Shoygu, who is considered as Putin’s successor, behaved very friendly in Armenia. At a restaurant, [and] accompanied by the First Lady [of Armenia], he cut the magnificent cake that was baked on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the [Armenian] army, [and] danced; subsequently, he sang along with Armenian jazzmen at a club,” Hraparak writes.