Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in December 2023
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian declined to say whether his country would arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he visit the Caucasus nation following Yerevan’s decision to join the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for his role in the deportation of Ukrainian children in occupied areas. Pashinian, when pressed repeatedly in an interview with Britain's Telegraph newspaper, said, “Armenia has had extensive democratic reforms, and I don’t decide who to arrest or not to arrest.” Russia is a traditional Armenian ally, but tensions have arisen in recent years over various issues. The Telegraph said the interview took place in Yerevan.