Putin left squirming as fellow world leader trolls | Political News

Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared visibly uncomfortable during a televised assembly at the Kremlin on Wednesday with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan when he spoke about Armenia’s democratic elections and unrestricted social media allowances for its residents.

As Pashinyan spoke about his nation’s biannual municipal elections, Putin could possibly be seen shuffling his legs, tapping his ft and fidgeting with his fingernails.

“Regarding our domestic political processes, you know, Armenia is a democratic country. We actually hold municipal elections twice a year – highly politicized,” Pahinyan said, seated next to an uneasy Putin. “People also vote for or against political parties, but this is a fundamental issue for us.

“I would like to point out that, for example, we have parliamentary elections coming up, elections for members of parliament, and based on the results of these elections, [the prime minister is chosen],” he added.

“I’m confident that following our upcoming elections, democracy in Armenia and people’s power in Armenia will be further strengthened.”

Pashinyan also appeared to distinction his nation’s social media coverage with that of Russia, which has been accused of orchestrating web blackouts.

“Our social media, for example, is 100% free,” Pashinyan said. “There are no restrictions whatsoever.”

Though Pashinyan at instances appeared to take the offensive in his remarks with Putin on Wednesday, Putin warned Armenia, which aspires to be a part of the European Union, that it gained’t have the option to be half of both the EU and a Moscow-led financial alliance, The Associated Press reported.

Armenia, which signed a U.S.-brokered settlement last yr ending many years of hostilities with Azerbaijan, has more and more sought to forge nearer ties with the U.S. and the EU. Pashinyan has declared an intention to be a part of the EU and his authorities has suspended the nation’s participation in a Moscow-dominated security pact, the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Speaking at the start of talks with Pashinyan in Moscow, Putin said Russia is “absolutely calm” about Armenia’s efforts to forge nearer ties with the EU, but he famous that for Armenia ”it’s not possible to be in a customs union with the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union.”

The Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, created in 2015 and also including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, is a single market permitting the free motion of items, capitals and labor.

Putin’s assertion appeared to ship a warning signal as prospects for Armenia’s EU membership look distant and no potential tariff-free deal between Armenia and the EU has been mentioned yet.

The Russian leader famous that the 2 blocs have widely different market rules relating to numerous teams of items and that reaching common ground is unlikely any time soon. He said that it’s up to Armenia to set its course, but he emphasised that the nation is at present getting Russian natural gasoline at a a lot decrease price in contrast to the European costs.

Pashinyan, in flip, said that he realizes that Armenia can’t concurrently be a member of both blocs, but for now it may well mix its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union with developing cooperation with the EU. “Ties with Russia are very deep and important for us,” he added.