Armenian Lawmaker Lusine Badalyan Denied Entry into Russia

YEREVAN — Lusine Badalyan, a member of Armenia’s National Assembly representing the ruling Civil Contract parliamentary faction, has been denied entry into the Russian Federation.

Badalyan announced the incident on social media, stating that she had planned to travel to St. Petersburg on October 14 to attend a meeting of the Permanent Commission on Social Policy and Human Rights of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Interparliamentary Assembly, scheduled for the following day.

“Today, October 14, I was planning to travel to St. Petersburg to participate in tomorrow’s regular meeting of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly’s Permanent Commission on Social Policy and Human Rights,” Badalyan wrote.

“As a member of the Armenian National Assembly’s delegation to the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, I was expected to participate in the meeting, which has 16 items on its agenda.

“However, I was denied entry into the Russian Federation on the grounds that I am prohibited from entering the country. The reason for this restriction remains unknown.”

The lawmaker described the situation as both unusual and concerning.

“It is a strange and troubling situation when a member of a national parliamentary delegation is prevented from traveling to the headquarters of an international parliamentary organization to fulfill official duties and participate in the commission’s work,” she stated.