Russian MFA comments on Armenian Parliament speaker's attacks on Belarus

“In my opinion, Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan is simply envious of the successes Belarus has accomplished; the successes that have eluded his country under his team's leadership. It's just envy; he spoke out of envy. Want to check my words? Just come to Belarus,” she said.

She said that she has repeatedly visited Belarus with her family, not only Minsk but also other cities. “What am I trying to say? The successes that Belarus has achieved in economy, industry, manufacturing, and agriculture… They are unreachable for Alen Simonyan. I urge everyone, including bloggers, media outlets from Armenia to go to Belarus to make the footage and show Alen Simonyan the achievements of Belarusians, the Belarusian people, and the Belarusian leadership,” Maria Zakharova said.

This recommendation fits well within European trends, she said. "For example, EU citizens Union from Poland regularly come to Belarus. Do you know for what? For food. They buy Belarusian products there, which are indeed distinguished by high quality thanks to the time-tested production traditions and to the rigorous GOST standards and regulations on the territory of Belarus," the diplomat stated.

“Belarus carefully treats ecology and its nature, honors its traditions, preserves the historical memory, teaches its younger generation about its culture and identity and remembers the attempts to destroy it. I have never heard the Belarusian leadership saying something like 'There's no need to talk anymore about the genocidal acts committed by the Nazis and fascists against Belarusians.' On the contrary, they talk about it, they write books about it, publish textbooks. Not in order to avoid communicating with the countries of Western Europe or Germany, but rather (as we have said many times before) to prevent the same atrocities from being committed against them as happened over 80 years ago," Maria Zakharova continued.

“Along with economic, industrial, manufacturing, and scientific development Belarus has made strides in cultural and humanitarian development. Belarus undertakes the restoration of the monuments and sites commemorating the heroism of its people that are very difficult to reconstruct. I see the country's progress in the field of mass media and communications. IT has gained momentum in Belarus. Sports have made great advancements in this country," the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry continued.

"Everything that Alen Simonyan said can be interpreted only in one way: pure envy of the successes of the people and the country that has done nothing wrong. Go there and see for yourself. Let me say it again: I did and I formed my own opinion," Maria Zakharova added.