I did not have any backstage meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin; there was a working lunch. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this at a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting of the Armenian government on Thursday, as he commented on the unfavorable assessments made after his recent visit to Moscow.

 “A working lunch took place, and we, as always, had lunch, talked in a friendly manner. I assess this visit as very successful, whereas everyone else is free to have their own opinions,” Pashinyan added.

According to Pashinyan, they have already agreed on further meetings and events.

“We have planned a high-level meeting in the second half of June [to note: Armenia’s parliamentary elections will be held on June 7]. As for the general content, I think what I said is actually a reflection of my previous public statements, but already in the given hall. So, I did not say anything new at the meeting with the President of the Russian Federation,” Pashinyan noted.

In his assessment, relations between Armenia and Russia are currently in a phase of constructive transformation, and the Armenian PM positively assessed this process.