Why Ararat Mirzoyan Did Not Travel to Dushanbe

According to "Hraparak," there was representation from Armenia at the joint meeting of the CSTO foreign ministers, defense ministers, and secretaries of the Security Council yesterday, with Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan in attendance. While Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan has been in Russia for several days engaged in significant negotiations regarding our border tensions—so important that even the death of his mother did not compel him to return urgently—Ararat Mirzoyan's absence from these events remains unclear.

Yesterday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed journalists that Mirzoyan did not travel to Dushanbe due to aircraft malfunctions. This explanation incited laughter within the Ministry, being described as sloppy and unfounded. "What aircraft was he supposed to board? The first flight? And how did Armen Grigoryan manage to go? Even if the plane is broken, he could have rented one or taken a regular flight," some criticized.

As for the real reason behind his absence, there is speculation: "Perhaps he had a more important agenda with European officials, which is why he did not go." It is notable that just yesterday, Mirzoyan met with Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Ivan Korčok, and a day prior, he held discussions with the French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Stéphane Visconti, and the Deputy Director of the Continental Europe Department of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Reportedly, yesterday's CSTO meeting discussed the situation concerning Afghanistan, with the organization declaring that, based on challenges, it would provide necessary assistance to member Tajikistan in border protection matters. Sources from the media suggest that this may be Armenia's response to the CSTO's indifference during the Artsakh war and regarding incursions into Armenian borders.