Russia says Armenian premier’s remarks about foiled coup attempt ‘internal matter’

ISTANBUL

Russia on Wednesday defined Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s remarks about a foiled coup attempt in the country as an “internal matter.”

“This is, of course, an internal matter for Armenia,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press briefing.

“We are, of course, interested in the preservation of law and order in Armenia, so that Armenia is a prosperous, stable country, friendly to Russia,” Peskov added.

Earlier, Pashinyan announced that a coup plot against the government led by a senior cleric had been thwarted by the country's law enforcement agencies.

"Law enforcement officers prevented a large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy' to destabilize the Republic of Armenia and seize power," Pashinyan wrote on Facebook, sharing a statement issued earlier by Armenia's Investigative Committee, which said the plot was foiled by the National Security Service during its "preparatory stages.”