The Russian Foreign Ministry called the statement about the threat to the security of Armenia absurd

Yerevan’s statement that Russia poses a threat to Armenia’s security is absurd. Thus, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, commented on the words of the Prime Minister of the Republic, Nikol Pashinyan, about threats due to the military presence of the Russian Federation.

“The peoples of Russia and Armenia are bound by strong bonds of friendship, they are rooted in the depths of history. We are determined to continue to strengthen in every way both bilateral relations and interaction in common integration associations – the CSTO, the EAEU, the CIS. Against this background, statements from Yerevan that the Russian presence poses some threats to the security of Armenia are absurd, ”said Zakharova (quote according to TASS).

She stressed that in the situation with the Lachin corridor, Russia is tuned in to a substantive settlement of the problem that has arisen, and not to populism. A tripartite working group co-chaired by the vice-premiers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia is engaged in unblocking the road in the region, Zakharova specified.

January 10 Pashinyan informedthat the Armenian Defense Ministry notified the CSTO that Yerevan considers it inappropriate to conduct exercises in the republic “in the current situation.” He also concluded that the silence of the Russian side “not only does not guarantee the security of the republic, but, on the contrary, creates threats to the security of Armenia.”

Pashinyan expressed concern about the activities of Russian peacekeepers. The prime minister acknowledged that they ensure the safety of the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, he pointed to the violation by the Azerbaijani side of the agreements in the zone of responsibility of the peacekeepers.

In this regard, Pashinyan declaredthat if Russia is not able to ensure the security of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, then it can initiate in the UN Security Council sending a multinational mission to the region.

The situation in the region escalated on December 12, when Azerbaijan, under the pretext of checking cargo for the export of gold from mines actually controlled by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), blocked the Stepanakert-Goris highway in the Lachin corridor. This is the only transport artery that connects the unrecognized NKR and Armenia.