The appointment of the new Russian ambassador to Armenia is not linked to Yerevan - Customs Union relations, a political expert said.

“Armenia - Customs Union ties are maintained on presidential level. Thus, the diplomatic contacts befitting Western countries and international organizations prove ineffective in this context,” Sergey Minasyan told a press conference, noting the West as a possible leverage in Armenian-Turkish relations.

“The West has greater leverage in Armenian-Turkish relations than Russia, which seeks for own gains in ties with Ankara,” the expert said.

He further noted appointment of new ambassadors as insignificant for Armenia, forecasting shifts in Russia’s geopolitical position only in the context of Abkhazian railway restoration.