Armenian parliament speaker says no threat of Moscow-backed coup 

By Elen Muradyan

Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan said on Monday he sees no risk of a coup in Armenia orchestrated by Moscow. Speaking to reporters in the National Assembly, Simonyan stressed his trust in the Armenian people and dismissed suggestions of external destabilization. 

“I do not see any threat of a coup in Armenia from any side,” Simonyan said. “I say this not just as a figure of speech. This is based on experience- since 2020, changing power in Armenia has been a top priority for various forces from different directions.”

His comments come ahead of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s planned visit to Moscow on May 9 to attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Soviet victory in World War II. Asked whether Pashinyan is considered persona non grata in Russia, Simonyan rejected the idea.

“He is not an undesirable figure for Russia,” he told journalists.

Simonyan suggested that Armenia’s efforts to strengthen its sovereignty and reduce external dependence may not be welcomed by many.

“Some think Armenia must always rely on some external center of power, always have a ‘big brother’ — no matter what face it has. They believe if that big brother or superpower is not there, Armenia will be devoured,” he said. “That mentality is fading. And that’s not a comfortable development for some, because Armenia is no longer as easily controlled as before.”

Simonyan’s press briefing followed a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin. According to the parliament’s press office, the two discussed an upcoming official visit to Armenia by Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of Russia’s Federation Council. Bilateral and interparliamentary ties were also on the agenda.

Meanwhile, speculation about Russia’s growing interest in Armenia’s internal affairs has intensified following a report by Russian daily Vedomosti claiming that Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian Presidential Administration, has been tasked with overseeing Armenia-related policy. The paper cited several Russian officials who described this move as a signal of Moscow’s intent to shape the political agenda in Yerevan.

According to the report, the Kremlin’s domestic policy department is now handling coordination on Armenia, previously overseen by Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak. While Kiriyenko has mainly been responsible for external operations involving breakaway regions like Abkhazia and South Ossetia, his new role is viewed as a soft power mission rather than direct electoral interference for the time being.

Citing sources close to the Kremlin, Vedomosti reported that while upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia are set for 2026, Moscow is currently focused on shaping the information environment. One source said Russia sees Armenia’s growing tilt toward the West as unacceptable, and that Kiriyenko’s team may seek to operate as they did in Abkhazia, promoting Russian interests through indirect influence.

Another Kremlin-linked source noted that with no credible pro-Russian political figures in Armenia today, except former presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, Russia faces a vacuum of influence. “There is no one left who can speak on behalf of Moscow,” the source said.

Tensions between Yerevan and Moscow have escalated in recent years, particularly after Armenia received no military support from the Russia-led CSTO during Azerbaijan’s offensive in September 2022. In response, Armenia froze its participation in the alliance in early 2024. Still, during an April visit to Estonia, Prime Minister Pashinyan insisted that Armenia is not seeking to harm ties with Russia.