Kremlin warns Armenia's EU push endangers ties amid opposition arrests

Kremlin adviser Yury Ushakov told reporters that Russia is deeply troubled by a wave of arrests targeting Armenian opposition figures, a development he said threatens Armenia’s ability to remain in a Moscow-led economic grouping as it pursues EU accession. He added that President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek early next week.

The detentions, which include former president Robert Kocharyan now charged with multiple corruption offences, come amid a broader crackdown on critics, church leaders and NGOs under Pashinyan’s administration. Pashinyan, who rose to power after 2018 street protests, has steered Armenia closer to Western institutions, creating friction with Russia, which still maintains a sizable military base in the South Caucasus. Ushakov described the arrests as “mass arrests” of leaders advocating stronger bilateral ties, and said the policy pursued by the Armenian leadership is a source of great concern for Moscow. The statements highlight growing diplomatic tension as Armenia balances its Western aspirations with its historic security partnership with Russia.