As far as I know, it’s not about political asylum. This is what Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan told journalists at the National Assembly today, touching upon the news about granting asylum to member of the Russian opposition Vitaly Shishkin.

“However, I can only give an evaluation after I read about it more carefully,” the deputy minister said. When told that there is a view that this is Armenia’s response to non-extradition of Mihran Poghosyan from Moscow, Shavarsh Kocharyan said he doesn’t think it is opportune to compare the case of Shishkin with that of former director of the Compulsory Enforcement Service of Armenia Mihran Poghosyan.

According to presses, Armenia has granted political asylum to member of the Russian political opposition, ultra-right public and political figure Vitaly Shishkin, who wrote the following on his Facebook page: “I am thankful to Armenia for granting the status of refugee to a political figure like myself, who is being persecuted by the Russian authorities for political motives.” According to the photo/document that Shishkin posted, he was granted political asylum in February 2019. The document states that he settled in Gyumri. From 2015 to January 10, 2019, Shishkin was under custody under the articles “Calls for Mass Disturbances” and “Instilling Hatred and Enmity”. He has participated in anti-government protests in not only Russia, but also Ukraine, Armenia, Turkey and Moldova. Armenia’s State Migration Service hasn’t commented on the situation yet. This might be the Armenian government’s response to Russia, which refused to extradite former director of the Compulsory Enforcement Service of Armenia Mihran Poghosyan.