Moscow expects comprehensive explanations from Yerevan regarding  Pashinyan`s statements about "freezing of participation" of Armenia  in CSTO - Statement

ArmInfo. Regarding the statement of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Moscow proceeds from the fact that Yerevan continues to remain a full member of the CSTO with all the rights and obligations arising from this status, but the Russian Federation is awaiting clarification from Yerevan on this statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated.  "For our part, we would like to emphasize again that we categorically  reject the reproaches of the Armenian authorities regarding the alleged non-fulfillment of its mandate and obligations by the CSTO towards Yerevan during the well-known events in the region that occurred in 2021 and 2022.

In September 2022, at the request of the Armenian side, an assessment  mission of the Secretariat and the Joint Headquarters of the  Organization was promptly formed and sent to the border areas of the  country," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted, RIA Novosti reports.

The Foreign Ministry indicated that "as a result, a decision of the  CSTO Collective Security Council on the deployment of a monitoring  mission in Armenia was prepared."

"It is not our fault or the fault of other members of the  Organization that this balanced decision, which also provided for the  provision of military-technical assistance to the Republic and a  number of other measures, was rejected by its authorities under  far-fetched pretexts. In return, Yerevan demonstratively chose to  invite 'pseudo-observers' from the EU - the well-known facts speak  for themselves and leave no doubt about the zero effectiveness of  their work. We proceed from the fact that the Republic of Armenia  continues to remain a full member of the CSTO with all the rights and  obligations arising from this status," the Russian Foreign Ministry  believes.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "stated with regret  that the dynamics of Yerevan's participation in the Organization's  events has decreased, which clearly does not meet the interests of  the friendly Armenian people and the tasks of ensuring the country's  security."

"We hope that Yerevan will come to an understanding that existing  concerns should be discussed and resolved in a calm, trusting  dialogue, and not by raising them in the public space. We expect  comprehensive explanations through bilateral channels about what  really stands behind Nikol Pashinyan's statements regarding the  "freezing of participation" of Armenia in the Collective Security  Treaty and in the Organization itself," the Russian Foreign Ministry  concluded.

Earlier, on Friday Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said in  an interview with France24 that the collective security agreement  regarding Armenia was not implemented, and the republic froze its  participation in the CSTO.

The CSTO Secretariat also stated that they had not received relevant  notifications from Yerevan. Press Secretary of the Russian President  Dmitry Peskov also noted that Yerevan did not send official  notifications regarding the freeze of membership in the Collective  Security Treaty Organization.  "The Armenian side did not take any  official actions in this regard. We intend to contact with our  colleagues and clarify the meaning of these statements," he said.

Peskov also noted that the Russian President does not yet plan to  discuss this issue with the Prime Minister of Armenia.