{"id":186516,"date":"2026-05-06T14:59:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T11:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/186516\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T14:59:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T11:59:49","slug":"armenias-parliamentary-speaker-says-minsk-has-itself-to-blame-for-fallout-with-yerevan","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/186516\/","title":{"rendered":"Armenia\u2019s parliamentary speaker says Minsk has itself to blame for fallout with Yerevan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Alen Simonian\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (parliament.am)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

May 6, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Armenia\u2019s parliamentary speaker, Alen Simonian, told reporters on Wednesday that it is the behavior of Belarusian authorities and not his rhetoric that worsens relations between Yerevan and Minsk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this week, the Belarusian foreign ministry\u2019s spokesman lashed out at Simonian for likening Belarus to a Russian province. Simonian dismissed the criticism, insisting that relations between the two countries are souring because of Minsk\u2019s \u201cdisrespect\u201d for Armenia and its statehood and support for the \u201c44-day war with Azerbaijan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simonian played up the value of human rights and fundamental freedoms for Armenia. \u201cWe have chosen the path of the democratization of Armenia, they have chosen a somewhat different path,\u201d he was quoted as saying by Armtimes<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simonian said that parliamentarians are free to speak their mind, unlike diplomats, and reiterated that \u201cArmenia will not be a marginal province, it will not be politically dependent.\u201d He described the Belarusian government model as \u201cunacceptable for my country and for me personally.\u201d \u201cArmenia is a free country with free media, human rights and the rule of law,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with Armenian Public Television broadcast on May 1, Simonian accused Russia of interference in his country\u2019s parliamentary elections. \u201cWe will not let [Russians] turn Armenia into a province; we will not be governed the way they govern Belarus,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his comments on May 4, Rus\u0142an Varanko\u016d, spokesman for the foreign ministry in Minsk, condemned Simonian\u2019s remarks as \u201cnothing but pre-election populism and a desperate attempt to distract the electorate from extremely serious internal problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBelarus is a sovereign state that independently determines the format of its allied relationship with Russia. We are proud of this cooperation and will not let anyone teach us,\u201d Varanko\u016d said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also criticized Armenia\u2019s pro-Western policy, claiming that it has led to depopulation, chronic economic instability and full dependence on foreign powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 5, Minsk handed a note of protest to Armenian Charge d\u2019Affaires Artur Sargsian over Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s visit to Yerevan on May 4 and 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry described the visit as \u201cunfriendly actions by the Armenian side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja went into exile in 2020 shortly after challenging the official result of Belarus\u2019 presidential election, which awarded victory to Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka with just over 80 percent. Cichano\u016dskaja claimed to have won a first-round victory with around 60 percent, citing an independent vote tally. International and domestic observers labelled the election as neither free nor fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During her visit to Armenia, the first one in her career, Cichano\u016dskaja took part in the European Political Community Summit and met with a number of country leaders, including Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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