Certain countries, which I don’t want to mention (Azerbaijan-ed.), are misusing the fact that their citizens know Russian and that they have Russian schools. However, it is important to understand that this can’t serve as an occasion to demand that Russia make concessions, grant loans and pay heed to other demands. This is what first deputy chairman of the committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation for the CIS, Eurasian integration and relations with Russian nationals abroad Konstantin Zatulin declared during the third session of the Lazarev Armenian-Russian Club today.

According to him, knowledge of Russian is an opportunity for one to expand his or her potential. “Russia is interested in the dissemination of Russian language around the world, but knowledge of the language can’t serve as an occasion to demand something in return,” Zatulin said and stated that he had come across the issue in regard to the driver’s license in Armenia. “Russia’s statements that this is due to the fact that there is no status for Russian language in Armenia. I believe it would be appropriate to accept a driver’s license in the Eurasian Economic Union,” he emphasized.