Russia announced on Wednesday that it has made progress toward establishing a consulate in Armenia’s Syunik region, although it has yet to receive final approval from Yerevan.
The Russian Foreign Ministry initially revealed plans to open the consulate in May 2023 following talks between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since then, Russian officials have made multiple visits to Syunik’s capital, Kapan, in preparation for the mission.
A senior Russian diplomat indicated in June 2024 that Moscow hoped to inaugurate the consulate by the end of the year. However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated in November that Yerevan had not yet granted the necessary final approval for the consulate’s opening.
Zakharova reported on the ongoing discussions during a briefing on Wednesday, stating that the issue was addressed during talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in January. She also mentioned that diplomatic consultations between their deputies took place in Moscow on March 20. Zakharova expressed hope that concrete agreements regarding the consulate’s opening could be reached by May.
The announcement comes at a time when Armenia appears to be making efforts to repair relations with Moscow amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, particularly in light of changes in U.S. administration under President Joe Biden. In March, Pashinyan informed Putin that he would attend a military parade in Moscow on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Additionally, Lavrov and Mirzoyan held two phone conversations within three days in March.
Since 2022, Pashinyan’s government has pursued a foreign policy that leans more toward the West, which has led to growing tensions between Armenia and Russia. Syunik, Armenia’s only region bordering Iran, is of particular significance due to its proximity to the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani leaders have repeatedly called for the establishment of a corridor through Syunik to connect Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan. Iran, which opened a consulate in Kapan in late 2022, has strongly opposed such a corridor.
Zakharova emphasized that the Russian consular presence in Syunik would strengthen economic, cultural, and other ties between the region and Russia. She also noted Iran’s recent ratification of a free-trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), a Russian-led bloc that Armenia is part of. Zakharova concluded that these developments would contribute to the peaceful and stable growth of Syunik.
