Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson accuses Armenian leadership of spreading ‘lies’
YEREVAN, April 3. /ARKA/. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova alleged today that Armenia's statements that Moscow and the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) did not respect their obligations towards Armenia and did not help it during the periods of aggravation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are "lies."
In an interview with the Russian Defense Ministry's Zvezda TV channel, Zakharova claimed that it was the West that had been pushing Armenia to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, while the rights of the residents of the unrecognized republic were in no way guaranteed in the documents that were signed at the dictation of NATO members.
According to her, Russia and President Vladimir Putin had many times used all opportunities, political and personal, to prevent the development of bloodshed and prevent a full-scale war from breaking out in the region.
"But official Yerevan says it's all because of Russia and because of the CSTO. I accuse all those who profess and spread this idea of lying. It is not true, it is a lie. Official Yerevan made this decision after consultations with the West. I accuse in lies all those who profess and spread the idea of blaming Russia and the CSTO for the decisions taken by Yerevan on Nagorno-Karabakh," Zakharova said.
"The main thing is that now, when the authorities in Yerevan will dispose of other territories, villages and so on, they should remember and bear responsibility for their decisions, and not blame someone for their own mistakes," Zakharova said.
According to Zakharova, the possible aggravation of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan directly depends on the extent to which official Yerevan will allow the EU, the US and the UK to destructively influence the situation in the region internally and within the country.
"The main thing is for these ungrateful citizens not to make a fatal mistake now," Zakharova said.
Armenia officially sought support from other CSTO member states after Azerbaijan's offensive military operations launched along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in September 2022, but did not receive it. Since then, it has repeatedly accused them of ignoring the request. It has rejected CSTO offers of "military-technical assistance" and a border monitoring mission.
Last year, Yerevan boycotted summits, military exercises and other CSTO events. In February this year, Pashinyan said Armenia had de facto suspended its membership in the alliance of six former Soviet republics. According to the prime minister, the alliance had become a threat to Armenia's security.
Russian officials have stepped up their attacks on the Armenian leadership ahead of Prime Minister Pashinyan's scheduled April 5 meeting in Brussels with the U.S. Secretary of State and the head of the European Commission.
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller assured that the meeting does not concern the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process, but will focus on Armenia's reforms, democracy, economy and resilience. -0
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