Armenian government is demonstratively breaking ties with Russia -  Zatulin

ArmInfo.The Armenian government is demonstratively breaking ties with Russia, Konstantin  Zatulin, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, told RIA Novosti, commenting on Yerevan's intentions to replace Russian border guards at Zvartnots airport with Armenian border troops.

"The Armenian government is demonstratively breaking ties with  Russia, looking for reasons, one step followed by another, this  corresponds to their policy. I think the matter will not be limited  to Zvartnots. Whatever they say now, they are gradually implementing  what we warned about: this refers to leaving the CSTO, then they will  raise the issue of the presence of a base in Gyumri," said Zatulin.

Earlier today, Secretary of the Armenian Security Council of the  Republic of Armenia Armen Grigoryan said that Yerevan officially  informed Moscow of its intention on replacing Russian border guards  at the airport with Armenian border troops to carry out border  control at the checkpoint at Zvartnots airport.

At the same time, he noted that the issue of the complete withdrawal  of Russian border troops from the territory of Armenia is not being  discussed, despite the clash in the area of the village of Nerkin  Hand. Grigoryan repeated his previous statement that Russian border  guards did not allow EU civilian monitors access to the site of the  shooting incident.

On February 13, 4 Armenian soldiers were killed, 1 was wounded, from  the shooting of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the direction of the  Armenian positions located near the village of Nerkin Hand.