Russian President Vladimir Putin received Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, France Press reported, quoted by BTA , referring to the press service of the Kremlin.
The agency notes that the meeting took place yesterday after several months of distancing Armenia from its historical ally Russia. Relations between the two countries cooled after Azerbaijan fully regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh last year. The Armenian authorities were disappointed by the non-intervention of the Russian peacekeepers stationed in the predominantly Armenian-populated Azerbaijani region.
"As for our bilateral relations, they are developing successfully", the Russian president addressed the Armenian prime minister, who was in Moscow for the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union. Putin, who did not mention the tension between Russia and Armenia, noted the importance of bilateral economic cooperation.
Five months ago, the small mountainous ex-Soviet republic in the South Caucasus joined the International Criminal Court and, accordingly, must comply with the arrest warrant issued by it for the Russian president if he steps on its territory, AFP recalls.
This is Pashinyan's first visit to Moscow since the beginning of the tension.
The Armenian prime minister is increasingly critical of his country's ties with Russia. Moscow accuses the government in Yerevan of wanting to end the decades-old partnership, AFP notes.