CSTO has Committed Criminal Inaction Against Armenia: Alen Simonyan

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, believes that Armenia should continue its cooperation with the CIS. "We can and should be active in terms of the CIS, as it is also a platform for cooperation that benefits our state, as well as economically related to the EAEU, we are in one economic zone, and our economy is quite interconnected with that economy," he said in response to a question from "Azatutyun."

Regarding the CSTO, the parliamentary speaker emphasized the opposite, stating that the CSTO has proven through several episodes that it has committed "criminal inaction against the Republic of Armenia." He remarked, "We didn't think that CSTO servicemen would come and fire at the Azerbaijanis, but at least we should have seen some political assessment, and we did not see that."

“We only defend the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and pursue only the interests of the Republic of Armenia. If any reversal is based on the interests of the Republic of Armenia, that reversal will be made, and if such a decision is made, the people of the Republic of Armenia will know about it,” he stated, adding that at the moment, these institutions are not being undermined in any way.

“But at the same time, I apologize, the actions and inaction shown by our partners, which, in my assessment, they continue to display while pursuing their own interests, also allows us to pursue our own interests,” he noted.

Amid recent tensions in Armenian-Russian relations, Armenian officials have refrained from participating in various meetings and gatherings of Russian-led organizations. The Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia has not yet clarified whether it will participate in the CIS leaders' year-end meeting.