Russia's Putin invites new Armenian PM to Moscow

Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting in Moscow's Kremlin in this February 28, 2008 file photo. Putin has invited Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan, winner of a disputed presidential election, to visit Moscow, news agencies quoted the Kremlin press service as saying on Monday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan, winner of a disputed presidential election, to visit Moscow, news agencies quoted the Kremlin press service as saying on Monday.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan imposed a state of emergency on March 1 during street battles between police and protesters which killed eight people.

The protesters say Kocharyan rigged the Feb. 19 election for his ally Sarksyan, who officially won with 53 percent of the vote against 21.5 percent for his nearest rival, former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

On Saturday Armenia's constitutional court upheld the result of the election.

"The invitation was accepted with gratitude," RIA-Novosti quoted the Kremlin as saying. It did not say when Sarksyan would visit Moscow.

Ter-Petrosyan has previously said he will continue protests after the end of the 20-day emergency rule. Both sides have refused to negotiate.

Western powers have urged Armenia to lift the emergency laws and on Monday Kocharyan did lift minor provisions of the laws. But soldiers still patrol the streets of Yerevan, public meetings are still banned and an information blackout remains in force.

Russia is ex-Soviet Armenia's largest foreign investor.

Armenia lies on the edge of the volatile Caucasus region across which runs a pipeline pumping oil from Asia to Europe. Any instability in Armenia is considered a threat to regional stability.