Without the CSTO, Armenia Would Be Part of Turkey by Now, Says Russian MP

Evgeny Fedorov, a State Duma deputy from the United Russia party, stated that without the CSTO, Armenia would have been part of Turkey by now.

The ruling party deputy made this statement following the comments of Armenia's Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan, who expressed that Yerevan expects the CSTO to recognize Armenia's borders and protect them.

Fedorov told Russian media that the notion that the CSTO owes anything to Yerevan is “wrong and incompetent.”

“Armenia should be grateful to this organization. After all, if it weren’t for the CSTO, Armenia would have long been part of Turkey,” Fedorov noted.

According to him, the CSTO does not need to supply Armenia with weapons beyond existing contracts and possible manufacturers.

The ruling party deputy went further, claiming that from an international law perspective, Armenia has unlawfully exited the USSR, as it did not complete the procedures, and therefore has no legal basis to be considered an ally of Moscow.

“From the perspective of international law, Armenia has not left the USSR, and thus also has not left Russia, which is seen as the successor of the Soviet state. Therefore, Moscow and Yerevan should build their future relations on the basis of this status. Armenia should be independent, but considering that this is a disputed area from the perspective of international law,” he added.