Armenia Has No Plans to Introduce Visa Requirements for Russian Citizens, Pashinyan Says

Armenia has no intention of introducing visas for Russian citizens and has never considered such a move, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said after a government meeting.

“We have absolutely no intention of doing anything like that, we have never had such an intention, and it has never even crossed our minds,” Pashinyan told journalists, according to Armenpress.

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We have absolutely no intention of doing anything like that, we have never had such an intention, and it has never even crossed our minds.

The prime minister said Armenia instead welcomed tourists from Russia. He said Russian visitors actively helped promote the country’s tourism potential. “We are very pleased to welcome tourists arriving from Russia. Armenian society also receives these people with great pleasure and affection, and they seem to feel quite comfortable in Armenia,” he said.

The statement followed reports in local media that Western partners had demanded Armenia introduce a visa regime for Russia. Those reports claimed the initiative came from Yerevan’s Western partners and that limiting the existing visa-free arrangement with Russia could be a condition for further progress toward visa liberalization with the European Union.

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We are very pleased to welcome tourists arriving from Russia. Armenian society also receives these people with great pleasure and affection, and they seem to feel quite comfortable in Armenia.