We Hope That No Temporary Administration Will Undermine the Ties Between Armenia and Russia – Lavrov

Statements coming from Yerevan regarding the possibility of exiting the CSTO are a sovereign choice of the Republic of Armenia, but the Russian Federation hopes that no temporary administration will dismantle the ties between Armenia and Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made this statement, according to RIA Novosti.

“If, as some leaders in Armenia have declared, they are now, disappointed with Russia and the CSTO, looking for partners elsewhere to strengthen their own security, that is their sovereign choice, the choice of Armenia's leadership. However, I still hope that the connections that have existed for centuries between the Russian and Armenian peoples will not be destroyed by any temporary administration,” he said to reporters after a meeting at the Valdai International Discussion Club.

It is noteworthy that on September 24, in his address to the nation, the Prime Minister of Armenia announced the necessity to change and supplement the tools of the republic's external and internal security. He mentioned that Azerbaijan's attacks on Armenia are leading to a situation where the external security systems, in which the country has been involved for many years, are ineffective for state interests and security.

Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement describing the claims made in Pashinyan's message as an unacceptable statement directed towards Russia. According to the Russian side, it is clear that there is an attempt to shift responsibility for failures in internal and external policy onto Moscow.