Reports have circulated on social media alleging that the visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan was removed from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s program in Armenia at the initiative of the Armenian side, Armenpress reports.

In response to an inquiry from Armenpress, Ani Badalyan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Armenia, dismissed these claims.

"During the development of the program for the Russian Foreign Minister’s working visit, the Russian side informed us that Minister Lavrov would visit Victory Park in connection with the anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. A wreath would be sent to Tsitsernakaberd [i.e. the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan] on behalf of the Russian Foreign Minister," Badalyan said.

She emphasized that in the case of working visits, the inclusion of such components in the program is determined by the visiting side.

"The Armenian side has provided all the necessary protocol and preparatory work for the mentioned elements of the visit program," the Armenian MFA spokesperson added.