VIDEO: We were Russia's vassals because Russia dictated everything to us - MP from Civil Contract

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko lives in a slave status, and we do not want to live in that status. This was stated by Gagik Melkonyan, an MP from the 'Civil Contract' faction, during a conversation with journalists, commenting on Lukashenko's recent remarks about the 'freezing' of Armenia's membership in the CSTO.

'Lukashenko has said many things. His main narrative has been, where will Armenia escape to? Lukashenko lives in a slave status, and we do not want to live in that status. We want to become an independent country: we will meet with whomever we want and sign contracts with whomever we wish,' he said.

When asked if Armenia was not independent before, Melkonyan replied, 'No. We were dependent on Russia. We were Russia's vassals because Russia dictated everything to us: with whom we should meet, with whom we should not interact. Whoever is president in our country has to have the 'approval' from Russia, otherwise...'

When asked if he himself had received 'approval' to be appointed Deputy Minister of Defense, Melkonyan answered, 'The Deputy Minister of Defense was not appointed with their 'approval'. The minister was also appointed with Russia's 'approval'.'

To the question of why Armenia does not leave the CSTO in that case, the MP said, 'We are doing well. When the time comes, we will do everything.'