Response from Moscow to Pashinyan's Speech: Such a Thing Was Not Allowed Before, Ushakov

The Assistant to the President of Russia, Yuri Ushakov, has described Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's decision to deliver a speech in Armenian at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek as "strange." This was reported by RIA Novosti.

"He probably knew that a translation from Armenian into other languages could be provided, and he delivered his speech in Armenian. This is a rare occurrence; in my opinion, he has not allowed such things at meetings before," Ushakov stated.

"I found it strange, but nothing more than that," added the Assistant to the President of Russia, emphasizing that Pashinyan speaks Russian, but the official language of Armenia is Armenian.

It is worth noting that earlier reports stated that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was not alone; leaders from three other countries in Bishkek also did not speak in Russian.