Newly appointed Armenian Ambassador to Russia Gurgen Arsenyan was not received according to state protocol, Armenian media write. It is noted that Arsenyan was supposed to present copies of his credentials to President Vladimir Putin, but the latter refused to meet.
Instead of Putin, the Armenian ambassador was received by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Galuzin. This is an almost unprecedented phenomenon in the history of Armenia, if not to say a disgrace, Yerevan noted. According to state protocol, when taking office, an ambassador usually hands over a copy of his credentials to the head of state in which he will perform his duties.
In recent years, relations between Russia and Armenia have sharply deteriorated. Yerevan suspended its participation in the CSTO and refused to purchase Russian weapons. In addition, Armenia expressed its desire to become a candidate for membership in the European Union and get closer to NATO.
