Russian news agency "Tass" reported that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Friday that "Russia has not yet delivered the weapons that our country has paid for, and talks are ongoing to find a solution." According to Tass, Pashinyan stated during an online press conference: "Of course, there are problems regarding Russia's non-delivery of weapons and equipment that we have paid for. Consultations are still ongoing to find ways to resolve these issues." He added that one solution might be to reduce the debts that Armenia has yet to pay to Russia for the funds it has already paid, especially since Moscow also needs weapons.
He did not provide details about the weapons Armenia purchased or the amount paid. Pashinyan also accused Russian state television channels broadcast in Armenia of violating local regulations, stating that consultations with Moscow on this matter are necessary. Russian state television has repeatedly blamed Pashinyan for Armenia's loss of Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan referred to the bilateral agreement between Yerevan and Moscow that stipulates "not taking any steps to interfere in the internal affairs of the country and destabilize the internal political situation."
In recent months, Armenia, a Moscow ally, has taken steps to distance itself from Russia by purchasing weapons from new suppliers, including France and India. Relations between the two allied nations have strained in recent months, with Pashinyan accusing Moscow of failing to support his country in its long-standing conflict with its rival Azerbaijan over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
