Overchuk: Pashinyan's statements about the absence of threats to Russian business are at odds with facts
02.04.2026,
12:45
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has openly stated that Russian business in the republic is not threatened, but the facts speak to the contrary, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk stated in an interview with TASS.
YEREVAN, April 2. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has openly stated that Russian business in the republic is not threatened, but the facts speak to the contrary, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk stated in an interview with TASS.
"Last summer, we directly asked the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia a question about the prospects for Russian investors in Armenia. He gave a straightforward answer to our direct question: Russian business in Armenia is not threatened. The facts, however, speak to the contrary. We see that we are being told one thing, while in reality, something completely different is happening. First, the property rights of a Russian businessman who had interests in the procurement and retail of electricity (the company "Electric Networks of Armenia" - ed.) were violated, and now an offer has been made to a Russian state-owned company to sell the concession (of the Armenian Railways - ed.)," he said.
As Overchuk noted, Moscow is aware that, in addition to Westerners, there are those in Armenia itself who want to curtail relations with Russia and remove Russian businesses from the republic.
"We see that last year Armenia adopted a declaratory law on its desire to join the European Union, and efforts are being made to adopt EU standards. We cannot ignore the numerous statements by the country's leaders about their desire to become part of the European Union. For us, both the confiscation of the property of a Russian businessman and the proposed sale of a railway concession fit into this framework," the Russian Deputy Prime Minister stated.
Overchuk noted that when asked about the reasons for the confiscation of the electricity company (from its owner, Samvel Karapetyan, president of the Tashir Group - ed.), Armenians responded by citing dissatisfaction with the company's poor service.
"Whether this is true or not is Armenia's internal matter." Whatever the background of these events and whoever the Russian investor may be, property rights are primary and underpin any relationship. "The seizure of private property by the state does not make Armenia more attractive to foreign investors," the Russian Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
According to him, "regardless of nationality, investors will now understand that if this happened to one of them once, there is no guarantee it won't happen to others."
Overchuk added that "the fact that the company itself was not Russian only reinforces investors' concerns." "Consequently, they will assess the country's investment risks as higher, the value of assets in Armenia will be lower than they could be, and the desire of businessmen to maximize profits in the shortest possible time will be higher. This is the logic of a market economy," the Deputy Prime Minister explained.
"Ultimately, these are the internal problems of Armenian entrepreneurs and consumers," Overchuk concluded.
"Last summer, we directly asked the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia a question about the prospects for Russian investors in Armenia. He gave a straightforward answer to our direct question: Russian business in Armenia is not threatened. The facts, however, speak to the contrary. We see that we are being told one thing, while in reality, something completely different is happening. First, the property rights of a Russian businessman who had interests in the procurement and retail of electricity (the company "Electric Networks of Armenia" - ed.) were violated, and now an offer has been made to a Russian state-owned company to sell the concession (of the Armenian Railways - ed.)," he said.
As Overchuk noted, Moscow is aware that, in addition to Westerners, there are those in Armenia itself who want to curtail relations with Russia and remove Russian businesses from the republic.
"We see that last year Armenia adopted a declaratory law on its desire to join the European Union, and efforts are being made to adopt EU standards. We cannot ignore the numerous statements by the country's leaders about their desire to become part of the European Union. For us, both the confiscation of the property of a Russian businessman and the proposed sale of a railway concession fit into this framework," the Russian Deputy Prime Minister stated.
Overchuk noted that when asked about the reasons for the confiscation of the electricity company (from its owner, Samvel Karapetyan, president of the Tashir Group - ed.), Armenians responded by citing dissatisfaction with the company's poor service.
"Whether this is true or not is Armenia's internal matter." Whatever the background of these events and whoever the Russian investor may be, property rights are primary and underpin any relationship. "The seizure of private property by the state does not make Armenia more attractive to foreign investors," the Russian Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
According to him, "regardless of nationality, investors will now understand that if this happened to one of them once, there is no guarantee it won't happen to others."
Overchuk added that "the fact that the company itself was not Russian only reinforces investors' concerns." "Consequently, they will assess the country's investment risks as higher, the value of assets in Armenia will be lower than they could be, and the desire of businessmen to maximize profits in the shortest possible time will be higher. This is the logic of a market economy," the Deputy Prime Minister explained.
"Ultimately, these are the internal problems of Armenian entrepreneurs and consumers," Overchuk concluded.
