Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his meeting today in Moscow with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, claimed that his administration backs the interests of the Armenian people, but added that the upcoming parliamentary election in Armenia and the country’s internal politics must not harm relations between the two countries.

Many will take this as a veiled threat from Putin that anti-Moscow sentiment in the run-up to the election must not get out of hand. Allegations abound in Armenia that Moscow wants to see the emergence of a pro-Russian leader in Armenia and funding pro-Russian political forces and is conducting what some have called a “hybrid” propaganda campaign to denigrate pro-European political forces in Yerevan.

“Russia and Armenia have special relations, they have been formed not over decades, but over centuries. We are united by a common history and the solution of common problems in the past through joint efforts. We are also united by a common civilization. This is extremely important,” Putin said according to a transcript of the meeting issued by the Armenian government.

Turning to economic relations between the two countries, Putin pointed out that while Moscow views Armenia’s tilt to Europe as normal, given that any country seeks to derive maximum benefit from cooperation with third countries, Armenia cannot become a member of a customs union with the European Union while at the same time remaining a member of the Moscow-backed EAEU.

“It is simply impossible. And the issue is not even political, but purely economic in nature,” Putin stressed.

Putin reiterated that when the Pashinyan administration, in 2022, recognized that Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan, any CSTO intervention in the matter became impossible.

He added, that in hindsight, the reunification of Karabakh with Azerbaijan was probably the best outcome from the point of view of organizing a peaceful life. Putin didn’t specify whose peaceful life he was talking about.

Returning to the June election in Armenia,  Putin said he would like to see the more than two million Armenians living in Russia, many represented by pro-Russian position, to be able to participate in the internal political work during the election.

What this means in practice remains unclear.

Putin concluded by saying that he hopes that Yerevan and Moscow will continue to strengthen their relations regardless of the June parliamentary election results in Armenia.

Pashinyan remarked that his administration is trying to juggle relations with the European Union and the EAEU.

“Ss long as there is an opportunity to combine these agendas, we will continue to combine them. And when the processes reach the point where it will be necessary to decide, I am sure that we, I mean the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, will make that decision,” Pashinyan told Putin.

Pashinyan stressed that Armenia’s deep-seated relations with Russia can never be in doubt.

Pashinyan told Putin that while his administration is discussing the possibility of constructing a new nuclear power plant in Armenia with Russia, it is also in touch with others for the best deal.

Pashinyan pushed back on Putin’s remarks about CSTO’s non-intervention in Armenia, saying that the Moscow-backed military alliance had an obligation to respond to Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia in 2022.