Pashinian cancelled his anticipated trip to Saint Petersburg on Wednesday, saying that he tested positive for the coronavirus. The official explanation was questioned by some of his domestic critics who linked the development to the Armenian government’s strained relations with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not inquire about Pashinian’s health condition or mention it when he opened the summit held outside the Russia’s second largest city. Meanwhile, Lukashenko quipped about Pashinian’s physical absence from the meeting during which his country took over the rotating presidency of the EEU from Armenia.
“We know that you not only shaved your beard but also got a little sick,” he said. “That’s why we perceive you as a new, young, on the face of it at least, member of our union.”
Pashinian responded by saying that he will not physically attend the next EEU summit in Minsk in line with his earlier statement that neither he nor other Armenian officials will visit Belarus as long as Lukashenko remains in power.
“What’s the problem?” said the Belarusian strongman. “Is Minsk too far away or you have nobody to give you a ride? We will organize the transport of your delegation if necessary.”
“Maybe there won’t be TV sets for you to talk via video link,” he added in another jibe at the Armenian leader.
“No problem … I understand that you may be having problems with TV sets as well,” Pashinian shot back.
Long-standing tensions between Armenia and Belarus rose further after Lukashenko made fresh pro-Azerbaijani statements during a visit to Azerbaijan in May this year. He said there that he had not only been aware of Baku’s plans to try to reconquer Nagorno-Karabakh by force but also approved them during his meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held before the 2020 war. Yerevan recalled its ambassador from Minsk in June.
Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, reignited the tensions in August when he denounced Armenia’s political leadership for seeking closer ties with the West. Moscow has also been very critical of the pro-Western tilt in Armenian foreign policy.
As part of that that policy change, Pashinian froze early this year Armenia’s membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). So far he has not threatened to leave the EEU as well, mindful of the Armenian economy’s heavy dependence on Russia’s vast market and relatively cheap natural gas.
Still, Pashinian declined to host EEU summits during Armenia’s yearlong presidency of the trade bloc. He said earlier this month that not all leaders of EEU member states are welcome in his country. It was not clear whether he referred to Putin or Lukashenko.