Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Aleksander Lukashenko of Belarus clashed during the annual summit of Eurasian Economic Union member states being held in St. Petersburg, Russia on Thursday.
Pashinyan, who was chairing the meeting remotely from Yerevan, had cited a recent diagnosis of Covid-19 as the reason he personally did not travel to Russia.
The clash between the two leaders erupted when Pashinyan said that he and the Armenian delegation would not take part in an EEU summit scheduled in May in the Belarus capital, Minsk. Belarus will be assuming the chairmanship of the Russia-led economic group from Armenia.
Lukashenko said that he would not “deviate from the norm,” and proposed to host the May meeting in Minsk, sparking Pashinyan’s announcement that Yerevan would not attend a meeting in Minsk.
Relations between Yerevan and Minsk have soured since Lukashenko not only paid a visit to Azerbaijan, but also visited occupied Shushi, where he praised President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on what he called a “victory” in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
He said there that he had not only been aware of Baku’s plans to try to take over Nagorno-Karabakh by force, but also approved them during his meetings with Aliyev held before the 2020 war.
These remarks and the subsequent response by Pashinyan prompted Yerevan and Minsk to recall their respective ambassadors.
“I just want to make it clear that we [Armenia] are not against holding the meeting of the EEU supreme economic council in Minsk, but I want to say in advance that our delegation will participate in the meeting via videoconference,” Pashinyan said.
The Armenian leader’s comment, evidently prompted Lukashenko to berate Pashinyan in a crass back and forth.
“What’s the problem?” Lukashenko asked. “Is Minsk too far from Armenia? Or, you don’t have anyone to take you there?”
Lukashenko also mocked Pashinyan, saying that there may not be a remote connection available for Armenia’s anticipated participation.
While accepting the EEU presidency, Lukashenk continued his barrage of attacks on Pashinyan, saying that he expects the leaders of member-states to physically attend the annual year-end summit.
“As the president, I would ask if our participants are interested in our union. I would prefer that everyone attends the meeting, instead of telling us on television about their intent to cooperate,” Lukashenko jabbed.
“We know that you not only shaved your beard, but also got a little sick,” Lukashenk added, referring to Pashinyan’s new look that he revealed earlier this month. “That’s why we perceive you as a new, young, on the face of it at least, member of our union,” the Belarus leader said.
