(Dan Tri) – Armenia, a former Soviet country, announced that it has temporarily suspended participation in the Collective Security Treaty (CSTO) treaty led by Russia, amid heated tensions between the two countries recently.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (Photo: Sputnik).
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that in fact the country has temporarily suspended participation in an important security agreement with Russia.
In an interview with France 24 published on February 22, Mr. Pashinyan said that Armenia is increasingly dissatisfied with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a security alliance consisting of 6 members.
Mr. Pashiyan explained: `We believe that, in the case of Armenia, the treaty has not been implemented, especially in 2021-2022, and that cannot be ignored. We have temporarily suspended participation
Armenia began refusing to attend several CSTO events and military exercises last year.
On the other hand, he called on the bloc and Russian leaders to support Armenia in tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan, another former Soviet country.
Russia has not commented on Mr. Pashinyan’s statement.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Pashinyan said Armenia could no longer rely on Russia as its main military and defense partner because Moscow had repeatedly disappointed the country.
Therefore, he said, Armenia must think about building closer relationships with the US and France.
Armenia has long depended on its ally Russia for security.
Armenia expressed dissatisfaction with Russia because it believed that Moscow had not made strong enough moves to support its CSTO ally in the conflict with Azerbaijan in Nagorno – Karabakh.
The pro-Yerevan separatist government was officially dissolved in September 2023 after Azerbaijan’s military campaign.
After Baku regained control of Nagorno – Karabakh, Yerevan also accused Russian peacekeeping forces of failing to protect people of Armenian origin in this land.
Russia believes that Armenia’s unsuccessful policy in handling complex competition in the South Caucasus is the cause of the above situation.
Recently, Armenia officially joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) despite Moscow warning that this was an `unfriendly` move because the ICC in March 2023 issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Last September, the Prime Minister of Armenia said the policy of relying solely on Russia to ensure his country’s security was a `strategic mistake` because Moscow was unable to keep its commitments and was narrowing its role in the region.
Armenia has recently made moves closer to the West, including organizing joint military exercises with the US.