In remarks on October 30, the spokesperson of the Russian MFA, Maria Zakharova, expressed concern over the charges against Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, criticized the politicization of foreign policy discussions in Armenia, and highlighted Moscow’s active engagement with Azerbaijan to secure the return and medical care of detained Russian citizens.

Zakharova commented on the charges brought against Vardan Ghukasyan, the Mayor of Gyumri, and the situation of detained Russian citizens in Azerbaijan. Regarding Ghukasyan, Zakharova stated that Armenia’s law enforcement is an internal matter, but expressed astonishment that discussions about cooperation with Russia could be interpreted as calls to renounce Armenia’s sovereignty. She noted that Armenian officials and public figures have openly advocated for EU membership, citing Armenia’s adoption of a law in April 2025 to initiate the EU accession process. Zakharova emphasized that EU membership entails significant limitations on sovereignty, including foreign policy, legal frameworks, monetary policy, and migration, and stressed that discussing a state’s foreign policy in public is a normal democratic practice. She expressed hope that Armenia’s judicial authorities would avoid politicizing their work and questioned why statements about Armenia’s cooperation with Russia are treated differently than statements supporting European integration. Zakharova also noted that Armenia participates in the CIS, CSTO, and EAEU, and that public discussion of the benefits and challenges of these memberships should similarly be considered normal.

Separately, Zakharova addressed the situation of detained Russian citizens in Azerbaijan. She stated that Moscow and Baku are engaged in a substantive dialogue to ensure the rapid return of Russian nationals. She confirmed that Igor Kartavykh, head of Sputnik Azerbaijan, and Yevgeny Belousov, its editor-in-chief, had already returned to Russia. Zakharova expressed concern for Dmitry Fyodorov, a student from St. Petersburg, citing reports of his poor health, and noted that consular access has not yet been granted despite the Russian Embassy’s renewed request on October 29 for a meeting and qualified medical care.