On August 12, Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, criticized reports that 103-year-old Armenian World War II veteran Rozalia Abgaryan could be questioned as part of a criminal case concerning an alleged violation of restrictions on charitable activities during an election period. Zakharova described the reported interrogation as evidence of what she called the "moral and spiritual decay" resulting from Armenia’s rapprochement with Europe and Kyiv. She argued that the case should not be viewed separately from a broader series of developments in Armenia that, in her assessment, demonstrate an increasingly negative attitude toward the shared history and memory of the Great Patriotic War.

"We cannot but view this report in isolation from the chain of events and steps taken by Yerevan, which appear to be a blatant mockery of our shared history and memory," Zakharova stated. She also recalled that Armenian officials had previously faced criticism over their response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s alleged threats to strike the Victory Parade on Red Square from Armenia. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson further referred to what she described as public attempts by the newly appointed head of an Armenian Defense Ministry educational institution to "whitewash the Nazis." She also mentioned the house arrest of the chairman of Armenia’s Union of Veterans, which she characterized as having been imposed under "completely trumped-up pretexts" during the pre-election period.

"Now, the Armenian justice system, which is adopting ‘democratic’ European standards, has reached R.S. Abgaryan," Zakharova stated, presenting the reported case as another example of what she considers the authorities’ disregard for veterans and wartime memory. Zakharova emphasized that Abgaryan and other surviving participants of World War II represent important custodians of historical memory and a moral compass for society. She stressed that their role extends beyond their personal wartime experiences to preserving the memory of the victory over Nazism for future generations.

She also recalled that Armenia’s leadership had previously met with Abgaryan and other veterans of the Great Patriotic War on several occasions, including during commemorative events in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. According to Zakharova, Abgaryan’s age, life experience, and character would allow her to withstand the reported interrogation. Nevertheless, she argued that the very decision to take action against a 103-year-old veteran demonstrated what she described as a broader loss of respect for historical memory and for those who participated in the war.