Recent newspaper reports have stated that Armenia has turned down support from the Russian Federation for the restoration of its railway infrastructure, which may suggest that a joint investigation between Russia and Armenia into the railway explosions is not being pursued. The Russian-Armenian Center for Humanitarian Response has been involved in the investigation since the beginning and has supplied necessary equipment to the Armenian authorities, according to Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Discussions are ongoing with various Russian companies operating in Armenia, including the Eurasian Economic Union, regarding further assistance. Additionally, Andrei Matveev, the Chief of Staff of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Overchuk, has stated that “Russian Railways” experts have already begun restoration work in Armenia to repair the damage caused by the explosions. He confirmed that Russia has allocated financial resources for this purpose and expressed the commitment of Russian experts to expedite the restoration of railway communication between Armenia and the outside world.

It is important to note that this information has gained significant attention, with reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin extended birthday greetings to Nikol Pashinyan, President of Armenia. This development has contributed to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Armenia and Russia. The news has generated both positive and negative reactions in social and media circles. Despite this, Nikol Pashinyan himself congratulated the Russian President on his birthday and expressed gratitude not only to him personally but also to the Russian government for their assistance in quickly restoring the railway sections in the Lori region, which were damaged due to natural disasters. However, to prevent excessive speculation, railway representatives have refrained from providing detailed information about the progress of the restoration work and the assistance provided by the Russian government. As a result, these topics have become highly discussed in both political and public spheres.

Furthermore, it has been observed that these recent events have been subject to various interpretations. Primarily, in the current political climate, the intention may have been to highlight President Putin’s birthday greetings to Pashinyan without specifically emphasizing Russia’s involvement or assistance. This approach aims to avoid creating a positive perception of Russia among the general public and also avoids potential criticism from Western countries, particularly the United States.

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News from Armenia – NEWS.am