RF State Duma Speaker: "We must distinguish  between the people of  Armenia and their ruling elite"

ArmInfo.We must distinguish between the people of Armenia and the ruling elite. The latter, by aspiring to join  the EU, is jeopardizing the country's  identity, as happened with Ukraine,  as stated by Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, to Vesti.

According to him, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is taking a  contradictory position, attempting to forge closer ties with the  European Union while while simultaneously retaining the benefits  provided by the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). "We need to separate  the Armenian people from the ruling elite.  Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan is doing everything he can to ensure Armenia becomes part  of the European Union. The question arises: can't you just be honest  about your goals and objectives? It turns out that, on the one hand,  they've already made up their minds and passed laws on joining the  European Union and extending the jurisdiction of the International  Criminal Court to Armenia, while on the other hand, they declare  their desire to remain in the Eurasian Economic Union and build  relations with Russia," Volodin said.

He pointed out that this demonstrates a consumerist attitude toward  Russia. "Using our country to get through this phase and join the  European Union is dishonest. We oppose these lies and double  standards," the parliamentarian added.

He noted that Russia provides Armenia with significant support:  Russian gas costs it four times less than what European consumers pay  for energy. "If you analyze remittances, two-thirds of the transfers  into Armenia come from  the Russian Federation. And as for the  commodity market: Russia is a key partner for Armenia. So, just go  ahead and renounce these benefits, and openly declare it to your  citizens, and join the European Union if you prefer that [European]  morality. Yes, the LGBT [movement] is banned here,  and we believe we  should respect our history. They have different principles," Volodin  reiterated.

He emphasized that, from an economic standpoint, the losses for  Armenia are obvious. "And even if we draw parallels with Ukraine,  they also talked about the European Union there claiming that the  economy would thrive as soon as such a decision was made. However,  they are not allowed to export their products to that market; they  are not competitive in Europe. And what will Armenia sell? They sell  us wine. [French President Emmanuel] Macron came, and he and  Pashinyan were embracing. So, sign a contract and supply wine to  France. Even cognac is now brandy for them [Armenia], because the  French said it was brandy.  And they [Armenia] will lose their  identity, just as they lost it in Ukraine. This is, of course, a  shame; Armenia's leaders are leading it to the abyss," the State Duma  speaker stated. Volodin emphasized that Russia stands for honest,  open relations and mutually beneficial cooperation, noting that  friendship is a two-way street.