Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the case of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, who was recently charged in Armenia partly for promoting the idea of creating a union state with Russia. She stated that the activities of Armenia’s law enforcement agencies are an internal matter. However, she raised concerns over perceived inconsistencies.
According to Zakharova, it's puzzling that calls to join a union state with Russia are seen as a threat to Armenia’s sovereignty, while aspirations to join the European Union don’t provoke similar legal scrutiny.
She pointed out that such accusations seem particularly strange against the backdrop of repeated public statements by Armenian officials and politicians regarding Armenia’s pro-EU trajectory. She recalled that earlier in 2025, a law was adopted in Armenia initiating procedures for potential EU membership, as reported by Sputnik Armenia.
“What do the country's law enforcement bodies think about the fact that EU accession explicitly involves limiting national sovereignty over foreign policy, the economy, migration, and monetary policy?” she asked.
Zakharova added that EU candidate states are required to adopt sanctions against countries the union deems hostile and to relinquish elements of sovereign decision-making, particularly in foreign affairs.
She concluded by noting that no criminal cases have been initiated in Armenia against supporters of EU integration, emphasizing that discussing a country’s foreign policy direction is a legitimate part of public discourse and should not be criminalized.
Ghukasyan, already in custody over bribery charges, was additionally charged on October 26 under Article 422, Part 2 of Armenia’s Criminal Code for public calls allegedly aimed at renouncing Armenia’s sovereignty by advocating union with another state.
