Armenia has no levers to force Russia open borders and accept Russia-based Armenians: NA vice speaker to protesters

Georgia will not open borders until elections scheduled for October 31 are over, vice speaker of Armenia’s parliament Alen Simonyan stated today at the meeting with the protesters who gathered outside NA building demanding opening borders for them to leave for Russia.

“I will not lie to you and state that Georgia will allow to travel to Russia through its territory. Russia, in its turn, says “I have issues, it is a pandemic, if I accept people from Armenia what will I tell the others.” Don’t believe anyone who will tell you that he will solve the issue. I do not want to lie to you. We are currently negotiating and trying to restore the flights,” Alen Simonyan said, stressing that Armenia cannot force Russia to allow Russia-based Armenians enter its territory.

“Armenia, Kazakhstan and other countries have no levers to force Russia. Give us time, our goal is to at least resume flights with Russia not only for you but for all,” he said.