٠٠:٠٥:٠٢Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the European Commission's decision to ban Russian-registered passenger vehicles from entering the EU as 'pure Nazism', while speaking to journalists at the Valdai Discussion Club's 20th Annual Meeting in Sochi on Monday.
"This is a manifestation of what is commonly called Nazism. [It's done] only towards the Russians, just as many other things. Westerners declare that not only the President of Russia V. Putin is guilty, but all Russians are guilty that they have elected him. Pure Nazism," he elaborated.
Lavrov also said he hoped that the 'ties that have existed for centuries' between Russia and Armenia 'will not be destroyed', following claims that the country's leadership had become 'disappointed' with Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO and was looking to the West.
On September 8, the European Commission published a statement clarifying that the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia related to the Ukraine conflict applied to Russian vehicles, urging countries to prohibit entry.
At the time of publication, a ban on Russian passenger cars had been imposed by Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Estonia.
On September 12, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticised the EU ban, calling the measure 'racism'.
Regarding Russia and Armenia, on September 24, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan claimed that the security organisations his country was currently participating in were 'not effective'.
"The attacks undertaken by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia in recent years lead to an obvious conclusion that the external security systems in which we are involved are not effective for the state interests and security of the Republic of Armenia," he said.
The long-running conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on September 19, with the beginning of what Azerbaijan called a 'counter-terrorist operation' in the region.
Azerbaijan accused Armenia of 'systematic shelling of its army positions' and announced 'anti-terrorist measures of a local nature' in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the only way to achieve peace in the region was 'unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and dissolution of the so-called regime'.
Pashinyan claimed that there were no Armenian Armed Forces in Nagorno-Karabakh while the Armenian Foreign Ministry called the events a 'large-scale aggression'. Moscow called on the parties to the conflict to declare a ceasefire and start negotiations.
The following day, the Defence Ministry of the self-proclaimed NKR (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) said that its authorities had decided to abide by a ceasefire and Baku announced the suspension of its 'anti-terrorist measures'.
Nagorno-Karabakh - formerly an autonomous region of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, with a predominantly ethnic Armenian population - broke away from Azerbaijan in the final years of the USSR, establishing a self-proclaimed, independent but internationally-unrecognised entity.
Baku claims sovereignty over the territory, and after a major war in 2020 regained control over large parts of the region. In May 2023, the Yerevan government recognised Azerbaijan’s claim to the territory but also called for protection for the region's ethnic Armenians.
'Pure Nazism' - Lavrov as EU states ban cars with Russian number plates from entering bloc
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the European Commission's decision to ban Russian-registered passenger vehicles from entering the EU as 'pure Nazism', while speaking to journalists at the Valdai Discussion Club's 20th Annual Meeting in Sochi on Monday.
"This is a manifestation of what is commonly called Nazism. [It's done] only towards the Russians, just as many other things. Westerners declare that not only the President of Russia V. Putin is guilty, but all Russians are guilty that they have elected him. Pure Nazism," he elaborated.
Lavrov also said he hoped that the 'ties that have existed for centuries' between Russia and Armenia 'will not be destroyed', following claims that the country's leadership had become 'disappointed' with Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO and was looking to the West.
On September 8, the European Commission published a statement clarifying that the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia related to the Ukraine conflict applied to Russian vehicles, urging countries to prohibit entry.
At the time of publication, a ban on Russian passenger cars had been imposed by Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Estonia.
On September 12, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticised the EU ban, calling the measure 'racism'.
Regarding Russia and Armenia, on September 24, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan claimed that the security organisations his country was currently participating in were 'not effective'.
"The attacks undertaken by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia in recent years lead to an obvious conclusion that the external security systems in which we are involved are not effective for the state interests and security of the Republic of Armenia," he said.
The long-running conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on September 19, with the beginning of what Azerbaijan called a 'counter-terrorist operation' in the region.
Azerbaijan accused Armenia of 'systematic shelling of its army positions' and announced 'anti-terrorist measures of a local nature' in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the only way to achieve peace in the region was 'unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and dissolution of the so-called regime'.
Pashinyan claimed that there were no Armenian Armed Forces in Nagorno-Karabakh while the Armenian Foreign Ministry called the events a 'large-scale aggression'. Moscow called on the parties to the conflict to declare a ceasefire and start negotiations.
The following day, the Defence Ministry of the self-proclaimed NKR (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) said that its authorities had decided to abide by a ceasefire and Baku announced the suspension of its 'anti-terrorist measures'.
Nagorno-Karabakh - formerly an autonomous region of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, with a predominantly ethnic Armenian population - broke away from Azerbaijan in the final years of the USSR, establishing a self-proclaimed, independent but internationally-unrecognised entity.
Baku claims sovereignty over the territory, and after a major war in 2020 regained control over large parts of the region. In May 2023, the Yerevan government recognised Azerbaijan’s claim to the territory but also called for protection for the region's ethnic Armenians.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the European Commission's decision to ban Russian-registered passenger vehicles from entering the EU as 'pure Nazism', while speaking to journalists at the Valdai Discussion Club's 20th Annual Meeting in Sochi on Monday.
"This is a manifestation of what is commonly called Nazism. [It's done] only towards the Russians, just as many other things. Westerners declare that not only the President of Russia V. Putin is guilty, but all Russians are guilty that they have elected him. Pure Nazism," he elaborated.
Lavrov also said he hoped that the 'ties that have existed for centuries' between Russia and Armenia 'will not be destroyed', following claims that the country's leadership had become 'disappointed' with Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO and was looking to the West.
On September 8, the European Commission published a statement clarifying that the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia related to the Ukraine conflict applied to Russian vehicles, urging countries to prohibit entry.
At the time of publication, a ban on Russian passenger cars had been imposed by Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Estonia.
On September 12, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticised the EU ban, calling the measure 'racism'.
Regarding Russia and Armenia, on September 24, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan claimed that the security organisations his country was currently participating in were 'not effective'.
"The attacks undertaken by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia in recent years lead to an obvious conclusion that the external security systems in which we are involved are not effective for the state interests and security of the Republic of Armenia," he said.
The long-running conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on September 19, with the beginning of what Azerbaijan called a 'counter-terrorist operation' in the region.
Azerbaijan accused Armenia of 'systematic shelling of its army positions' and announced 'anti-terrorist measures of a local nature' in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the only way to achieve peace in the region was 'unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and dissolution of the so-called regime'.
Pashinyan claimed that there were no Armenian Armed Forces in Nagorno-Karabakh while the Armenian Foreign Ministry called the events a 'large-scale aggression'. Moscow called on the parties to the conflict to declare a ceasefire and start negotiations.
The following day, the Defence Ministry of the self-proclaimed NKR (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) said that its authorities had decided to abide by a ceasefire and Baku announced the suspension of its 'anti-terrorist measures'.
Nagorno-Karabakh - formerly an autonomous region of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, with a predominantly ethnic Armenian population - broke away from Azerbaijan in the final years of the USSR, establishing a self-proclaimed, independent but internationally-unrecognised entity.
Baku claims sovereignty over the territory, and after a major war in 2020 regained control over large parts of the region. In May 2023, the Yerevan government recognised Azerbaijan’s claim to the territory but also called for protection for the region's ethnic Armenians.