YEREVAN -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Yerevan to take part in a summit of leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EES) amid protests against political suppression in Russia.
The summit, which began on October 1 in the Armenian capital, is aimed at building closer economic ties between member states Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, as well as with nonmember states.
A group of Armenian human rights activists held a protest in front of the Presidential Palace in Yerevan to express support for political prisoners in Russia.
Among the leaders of non-EES states invited to attend the event are Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Iranian President Hassan Rohani.
Singapore is expected to sign a free trade zone agreement with the EES at the October 1 session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.
Rohani is expected to meet with Putin on the sidelines of the summit.
