There is No Conflict Between Armenia and CSTO: Vasilev

Russian official representatives continue to address the current situation between Armenia and the CSTO. In an interview with RIA, the permanent representative of Russia to the CSTO, Viktor Vasilev, stated that there is no "conflict" between the Organization and Yerevan, and that linking this issue to events since 2021 is unfounded.

Commenting on Armenia's freezing of payments to the organization's budget and its debts, Vasilev noted that this issue will likely be discussed at the next meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council, taking place in Moscow on November 11.

“In any case, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not related to the CSTO's mandate, and Yerevan knows this. Naturally, we want to maintain the friendly relations between Russia and Armenia, considering the intertwined lives and destinies of our peoples, not only over decades but also over centuries,” he said.

The Russian official also commented on the intensification of Armenia's cooperation with NATO, particularly joint military exercises. According to him, the West's attempts to "pull back" Armenia from CSTO allies do not align with the country's long-term security interests.