Armenian premier`s position on reorientation clear - Russian MP

ArmInfo. The political position of the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on reorientation is consistent, and the topic of the withdrawal of the 102nd Russian base from the Republic of Armenia will soon be heard,  stated the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Konstantin Zatulin in the program "Big Game".

Thus, when asked to comment on the statements of the Prime Minister of Armenia that the  CSTO poses a threat to Armenia, Zatulin noted that it is difficult  for him to say what Pashinyan meant.

"For example, I have no opportunity to ask him about this. He banned  me from entering Armenia in 2022, following the example of  Azerbaijan, which banned me from entering in 2011. But as for his  real attitude, his views, let's say he suddenly discovered this when  he became prime minister, that the CSTO cannot be trusted. But even  before becoming prime minister, he, being a journalist - not yet a  politician - everywhere and everywhere, being a marginal figure in  Armenian society, argued that relations with Russia must be  terminated. 

We must leave the CSTO. We must dismantle the base in Gyumri - this  topic has not been heard yet, but it will definitely be heard after  some time. He demanded this. He demanded that we focus on Europe.  This is his political position, and he is consistent in this regard,"  the Russian parliamentarian said. At the same time, the politician  believes that some of our experts who saw some change in Pashinyan's  appearance during his flirtation with Russia from 2018 to 2020 may be  inconsistent. "Well, external, in fact, not internal. That's all. And  as for his reorientation, it is obvious. He, in fact, went to Western  capitals. Today, he is hugging, and his emissaries are hugging not  only representatives of Western powers, but also representatives of  the Ukrainian, Kyiv regime," Zatulin added.

At the same time, the MP recalled that back in 2022, as soon as the  CSTO began, he declared in Western capitals that Armenia does not  support Russia in its actions. "It is not our plan for Russia to win  in Ukraine.  Because in this case the Soviet Union could be  recreated, and this is not Armenia's plan. That is, he spoke  publicly. This was known to everyone, against his ally in that very  CSTO, the Russian Federation, without embarrassment. That is, this is  a person with whom to build relations is to build on sand. I am  trying to explain this. Well, I hope that this will be heard," the  Russian MP summed up.

Note that on September 18, Nikol Pashinyan, speaking at the World  Armenian Summit, called the CSTO a threat to the security and  sovereignty of Armenia. "We have frozen our membership in the CSTO  not only because the CSTO does not fulfill its obligations to ensure  Armenia's security, but also because the CSTO creates threats to  Armenia's security, its continued existence, sovereignty and  statehood," Pashinyan said.  The Kremlin rejected these accusations  and promised to convey the real situation to the Armenian side.