Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Monday that he will not attend the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit on May 28 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Axar.az reports, ciing Armenian media, he told reporters that back on April 1, during a meeting at the Kremlin, he informed Russian President Vladimir Putin that he would not attend both the May 9 Victory Day events in Moscow and the May 28 Eurasian Economic Union meeting, citing the campaigning period in Armenia.

“I have informed in advance, also out of courtesy and as an expression of respect, that I will not be able to participate in the May 9 parade in Moscow, and I have also informed that I will not be able to attend the EAEU meeting on May 28,” Pashinyan said at a press briefing during a campaign event for his Civil Contract party in Yerevan.

Pashinyan said he also notified Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that he would not attend the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Astana.

The Prime Minister added that Armenia will be represented at the session by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.