“During my visit to Russia on April 1, I informed the Russian president that I would be absent from the May 9 military parade in Moscow and that I would be unable to attend the EAEU summit on May 28,” Pashinyan told reporters this Monday.

The Armenian leader added that he also informed the host of the event, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

“Armenia will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Mger Grigoryan,” he clarified. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is an economic alliance comprised of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, while Cuba, Iran, Moldova, and Uzbekistan participate as observer countries.

The next elections for the National Assembly of Armenia (the unicameral parliament, which is renewed every five years) will take place on June 7.

Two electoral blocs and 17 parties will compete, including the ruling Civil Contract Party of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Also competing are the Strong Armenia alliance, led by businessman Samvel Karapetyan; the Armenia alliance, led by former President Robert Kocharyan; and the Prosperous Armenia party, led by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan.

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