Armenia Appoints New Ambassador to Russia

YEREVAN – Gurgen Arsenyan, a prominent Armenian pro-government lawmaker, has been appointed new ambassador to Russia, days after resigning from his parliamentary seat.

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan signed the relevant decree on Wednesday. By a preceding decree the president recalled Vagharshak Harutiunyan, who had served as Armenia’s ambassador in Moscow since January 2022.

Arsenyan had been tipped to become Armenia’s next ambassador to Russia since last year. In October 2023, he himself confirmed that his appointment was awaiting Moscow’s approval.

Arsenyan, a 64-year-old veteran politician and affluent business owner, has been engaged in Armenian politics since the country gained independence in 1991. During this time, he was affiliated with several major political groups as well as led his own political party to win seats in parliament in 2003. In the 2021 snap parliamentary elections Arsenyan was again elected to parliament on the ticket of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party.