Russia’s expects Armenia’s response to its note of protest

YEREVAN, August 18. /ARKA/. The Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Armenia had a meeting with the Armenian Foreign Ministry leadership, Ivan Nechayev, Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said today in a comment on a note sent by the Russian embassy in Yerevan to Armenia’s Foreign Ministry over “blasphemous and false accusations’ spread in Armenia alleging that Russians were behind the deadly explosion at a Yerevan market on August 14 that killed 16 people and injured dozens of others.

“We consider this as a direct provocation by the political forces behind such insinuations aimed at undermining Russian-Armenian allied relations. We expect the Armenian authorities to take steps aimed at preventing such unfriendly manifestations, including necessary public comments,” the Russian embassy’s note read.

"We are ready to confirm sending a corresponding note to the Armenian Foreign Ministry. A corresponding statement was made by the Russian Embassy in Yerevan. Today a constructive conversation between our Charge d'Affaires and the leadership of the Armenian Foreign Ministry took place in Yerevan. We expect the latter’s response," Nechayev said at a press briefing on Thursday.

Vahan Hunanyan, a spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that “if there is a comment on the statement of the Russian embassy, it will be published, and journalists will get to know about it.” -0-