ArmInfo.Collective Security Treaty Organization member states have taken a balanced stance during the recent fighting in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this in an interview with RBC.
In his words, Armenia did not apply for help to the CSTO, and this is a very important fact. The Armenian side, the Prime Minister continued, only informed the CSTO Permanent Council about the current situation, but official Yerevan did not ask for help. The statements of the CSTO member states were aimed at stabilizing the situation.
Answering the question about the possibility of Russia's involvement in the conflict on the side of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan categorically ruled out this possibility. He recalled that the Russian Federation is the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, being a mediator in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During the armed confrontation, Russia took a constructive position. The head of the Armenian government stated that the format of the OSCE Minsk Group is one of the rare platforms where Russia and the United States effectively cooperate, which is a guarantee of stability in the region. Nikol Pashinyan also noted that during the conflict he had no contact with either President Putin or President Trump. The situation was discussed only with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
It should be reminded that on July 12 the Azerbaijani Armed Forces fired at Armenian positions in the Tavush direction of the border and tried to attack. As a result of return fire from the Armenian side, the enemy returned to their original positions, having suffered losses. On the morning of July 13, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces resumed shelling the Armenian positions. Until July 17, with some interruptions, shelling of Armenian border villages was also carried out. Azerbaijan lost at least 13 people. The number of victims from the Armenian side reached 5.