Pashinyan skips CIS summit in Russia despite negative Covid test

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced he will not attend the informal summit of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, citing recent recovery from Covid-19.

In a statement on his official Facebook page, Pashinyan disclosed that while he tested positive for the virus on December 23 and has since tested negative, consultations with colleagues led to the decision to forgo participation in the summit. However, a decision regarding his presence at the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Council meeting scheduled for December 26 will be made by the end of the day.

The CIS includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with Moldova in the process of exiting the bloc by the end of 2024. The EAEU, another regional organization, comprises Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Armenia’s relationship with Russia has been strained following the events in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, which led to the region’s return to Azerbaijani control. In recent months, Armenia has pursued closer ties with the United States and the European Union, signaling a shift in its foreign policy priorities.