Russian blogger Artemy Lebedev denied entry to Armenia

Armenia has barred Russian designer and blogger Artemy Lebedev from entering the country, Russian media reported on Tuesday, citing Ateo Breaking.

Reports suggested that the move followed Lebedev’s criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his comments on the use of the term “cognac”, which Pashinyan stated is legally protected and applies only to brandy from France’s Cognac region.

Lebedev accused Pashinyan of abandoning a long-standing national brand traditionally produced in Armenia.

Responding to the blogger’s remarks, National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan said the Russian commentator was “sticking his non-Armenian nose into Armenian affairs”.