Our Russian colleagues, as well as colleagues from any other third country, should respect the decisions of the people of Armenia, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in an interview to the Polish TPV World.

Journalist: Talking about aggressive rhetoric, let me ask you this: what role does Russia still play? I think that it comes as an important question, right? We have been seeing Russia's role diminishing slowly in the South Caucasus. But how does it still play in Armenia's security today? Or does it not? Or does it no longer hold the same role that it played once 15 years ago? 

Ararat Mirzoyan: Well, you know, officially, we saw the welcoming statements from high-ranking Russian officials, I mean, welcoming the establishment of peace, Washington Declaration. Again, officially, we saw an expressed readiness by Russian high-ranking officials to support the connectivity project, readiness to somehow participate. I cannot, of course, deny that we on a daily basis also observe heavy criticism by Russian media, sometimes state media, members of the parliament, experts, politicians, heavy criticism of the government of Armenia, and current foreign policy of Armenia. 

Journalist: But why?  Isn't it a good thing to see Armenia flourish with the West and get closer European ties? 

Ararat Mirzoyan: Maybe you should ask your Russian guests, if any. But not even trying to understand the deep reasons, they can be simple, they can be sophisticated, but regardless, I think Russia, our Russian colleagues, as well as colleagues from any other third country, should respect the decisions of the people of Armenia. We are continuously having democratic elections, political parties go and introduce their agenda, their views on different crucial issues, and then citizens of Armenia decide. So our political party got the majority, led by our Prime Minister, got the majority of the votes, I mean, we got the support of the citizens of Armenia during snap parliamentary elections in 2021, in the middle of a very serious internal political crisis. We have had several public opinion polls this year, and now we are going to have an election again, a parliamentary election in June 2026. So we will see.