PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that only citizens holding exclusively Armenian passports may participate in the country's upcoming parliamentary elections, emphasizing that individuals with Russian passports are not eligible to vote. He made the remarks during a meeting in Moscow with Vladimir Putin, in response to comments by the Russian president and in the context of ongoing domestic political developments in Armenia.

"I would like to draw attention to the fact that, for example, we are expecting parliamentary elections. These are parliamentary elections and, de facto, also the election of the prime minister. I want to emphasize that only those citizens who hold exclusively Armenian passports can participate in these elections. That is, with all due respect, individuals holding Russian passports, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, cannot be candidates either for deputy or for prime minister. There are no restrictions here," Pashinyan said, according to the Prime Minister's press service.

He also added that "there are no participants in political processes in places of detention in Armenia."

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there are many pro-Russian political forces and figures in Armenia and noted that some of them are in detention.

"I will tell you frankly since we always speak honestly and directly. We would very much like all these political parties and political figures to be able to participate in this domestic political work during elections. Some, as I know, are in places of detention, despite the fact that they hold Russian passports. That is your decision, we do not interfere, but we would like them, at least, to be able to participate in this domestic political process," Putin said.

Source: PanArmenian.Net