YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: The delegation headed by [National Assembly (NA) speaker] Ararat Mirzoyan will be in Moscow, from May 16 to 18, on an official visit.

That visit was scheduled a month ago, on April 13, but official Moscow refused to accept [the Armenian delegation]; according to rumors, for political reasons. The RF [Russian Federation] authorities were angry that after [Armenian acting PM Nikol] Pashinyan's visit to Moscow they staged the story in connection with the [Armenian] captives [in Azerbaijan]—spread false rumors that they were bringing captives [back] (…).

The visit will take place now, as the RF authorities have decided not to weaken [their] control over Pashinyan’s rule before the [snap parliamentary] elections [on June 20], taking into account [Azerbaijani president Ilham] Aliyev's recent aggressive statements on the Zangezur corridor and the interests of the West.

By the way, the behavior of the PAP [the parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party] is noteworthy. The official delegation [heading for Moscow] will include not only the representative of the BAP [parliamentary opposition Bright Armenia Party] which has become Pashinyan's attaché, but also PAP member Mikayel Melkumyan. It is strange that the PAP boycotts the NA sittings, but does not refuse [going to the NA’s] business trips.