How Moscow Received Gurgen Arsenyan: 'Zhoghovurd'

'Zhoghovurd' newspaper reports that the representatives of the ruling Civil Contract party continue to disregard even the elementary requirements of state protocol, which regrettably has a severely negative impact on Armenia's international ranking. Thus, Gurgen Arsenyan, a former MP of the Civil Contract faction, who was appointed as Armenia's ambassador to Russia in August this year, submitted the copies of his credentials to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin on September 11, which officially marks the assumption of his duties.

However, according to state protocol, upon assuming the position of ambassador, the copies of the credentials are usually handed over to the head of state where the duties will be exercised. This was the case, for instance, in 2022, when the former Armenian ambassador to Russia, Vahagn Harutyunyan, presented his credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin upon taking office. But Arsenyan was not received by Putin.

The Civil Contract members have decided to break the 'stereotypes' of the outside world and not adhere to the rules of state protocol. 'Zhoghovurd' noticed in the statement issued by the Armenian embassy in Russia that Gurgen Arsenyan, upon assuming the position of ambassador, for some unknown reason, handed over the copies of his credentials not to the President of Russia but to Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, which is nearly unprecedented in Armenian history, if not a disgrace.

The full article is available in today’s issue of the newspaper.