Representatives of the Council of Europe have called on Azerbaijani authorities to release human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Specifically, PACE rapporteur on political prisoners Azadeh Rojhan asserts that his prosecution is political in nature and that fundamental principles of a fair trial were violated during the proceedings.
The Russian Federation will unilaterally terminate the agreement on the supply of gas, petroleum products, and diamonds to Armenia if it continues its path toward joining the European Union. This statement was made by Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to her, the Russian Embassy in Yerevan officially notified the Armenian side of this decision.
Earlier, the Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure denied reports circulated by Russian media about such threats from Moscow. Armenia recalled that the agreement signed between Yerevan and Moscow in 2013 provides for the supply of resources on preferential terms related to domestic consumption, without levying export duties.
Today, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, stated that contacts between the Russian president and the Armenian prime minister are not expected in the near future. He recalled that the preferential price for gas supplies to Armenia is provided by Russia.
"Armenia remains a member of the EAEU and will participate at the working level in the union's summit in Astana. However, Armenia has already adopted a corresponding law, which, in essence, legally obliges the government and all state authorities to focus on European integration," Peskov noted.
Recently, Russian authorities have sharply criticized the Armenian government and threatened the consequences of the country's rapprochement with the European Union and the West. Media reports have emerged that Moscow is using its intelligence services and controlled Armenian politicians and oligarchs to prevent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's ruling Civil Contract party from winning the parliamentary elections. Specifically, Armenia is being threatened with the severing of economic ties, sanctions against Armenian goods, and a tightening of immigration regulations.