Konstantin Zatulin, first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the unexpected ban on entering Armenia is insulting and is imposed against the background of the trilateral meeting between the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan to be held in Russia. The decision, he said, is justified by the fact that the words he said are harmful for Armenia. He assured that the decision of the Armenian authorities will not affect his pro-Armenian activities, calling the actions of the Armenian authorities against the Armenians of Karabakh a betrayal.
Zatulin reminded that he has always advocated the development of relations with Armenia and has initiated the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the State Duma. The deputy said that a corresponding note was received from the Armenian parliament. "It called my visit undesirable. I regard it as an attempt to disrupt the session of Lazarev Club, where representatives of Armenian authorities were also invited," he said.
In his assessment, official Yerevan is trying to turn Armenia from an ally of Russia into an ally of the West. Zatulin called the attempt to accuse Russia of neglecting its obligations a manipulation, reminding that there are Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh. The letter from the leadership of Armenian National Assembly says: "Unfortunately, your recent public statements about the Republic of Armenia are detrimental to the development of friendly and allied relations between our nations. In this regard, your visit to the Republic of Armenia is considered undesirable in the future. A corresponding "leak" was published earlier by the Armenian Prime Minister's family newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak. The newspaper "explains" the decision allegedly repeatedly expressed by Zatulin's opinion that the authorities are guilty of the lost 44-day war. "Moreover, while invading Armenia's domestic political life, Zatulin has repeatedly stated that Nikol Pashinyan should leave. Zatulin even managed to accuse the Armenian authorities of driving a wedge into Armenian-Russian relations. And during his last visit to Armenia, in an interview with Yerkir Media, he accused the prime minister of signing a "corridor" through Armenia's sovereign territory. "Questions on the possible corridor should be asked to the signatories, the "corridor" was signed by Pashinyan," Zatulin said, according to the newspaper.
Aram Danielyan
