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Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan has condemned the “disgraceful” decision to ban Russian lawmaker Konstantin Zatulin from entering Armenia.

The Armenian authorities imposed an entry ban on Zatulin, who serves as deputy chair of the State Duma committee on post-Soviet affairs and Eurasian integration, earlier this week.

"I regret the disgraceful decision to ban Konstantin Zatulin from entering Armenia. This is unprecedented in Armenia’s history when a parliamentarian of a friendly country is banned from Armenia,” he said in a statement on Friday.

"It also causes bewilderment as Konstantin Fedorovich is one of those politicians who has always stood with the Armenian people and stood up for the interests of the Artsakh Republic and its people.

“It is worth noting that there is not a single pro-Azerbaijani or pro-Turkish activist known to be banned from entering Armenia thus far,” he said, underscoring the public discontent with the decision which could send a “dangerous message” to Russia.

“Konstantin Zatulin has been and will definitely remain a good friend of Armenia,” reads the statement.