Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin recalled that anti-LGBT laws have been in effect in Russia for three years, prohibiting any propaganda of LGBT rights, pedophilia, and gender reassignment. He also noted that, according to the amendment to the country's Constitution, "marriage is a union between a man and a woman," emphasizing that this is the choice of Russian citizens.
Turkey is ready to open the border with Armenia only if it resolves all issues with Azerbaijan. This was stated by the head of the Turkish-Azerbaijani interparliamentary friendship group Shamil Ayrim at an event in Ankara.
Ayrim stressed that Armenia must amend the constitution, which reflects its territorial claims to Azerbaijan and Turkey, otherwise “peace with such a state will be impossible.”
In January, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan noted that Turkey’s reaction is expected on the issue of opening the border; on the Armenian side, the infrastructure is completely ready. “The implementation of the agreements reached between Armenia and Turkey, in particular the opening of the border to citizens of third countries and persons with diplomatic passports, can have a beneficial impact on both Armenian-Turkish relations and the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement,” Kostanyan said.