The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan has expressed fears that Russia is conspiring to initiate a war against Armenia in collaboration with its bitter rival, Azerbaijan.
Speaking to the Armenian parliament, Pashinyan made it clear that Armenia would decide the timing of its departure but would not return to the alliance.
“We will decide ourselves when we leave, but we will not come back. It has become evident that members of the alliance are not fulfilling their contractual obligations but are instead planning a war with Azerbaijan against us,” Pashinyan stated.
Severing Ties with Putin
According to Marcus Oscarsson Pashinyan has accused Russia of failing to protect Armenia from Azerbaijani aggression for some time. He has previously threatened to leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and align with the West if Moscow did not honor its commitments.
Now, it seems Armenia has finally decided to sever ties with Vladimir Putin.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which Azerbaijan forcibly reclaimed in September last year.
Traditionally, Russia has been a close ally of Armenia, but relations have soured significantly as Moscow has strengthened its ties with Azerbaijan.
"Strategic Mistake" to Trust Russia
Last year, Nikol Pashinyan declared that it was a “strategic mistake” to rely on Russia.
In May, Armenia expelled Russian soldiers from several regions. “An agreement has been reached to send back Russian border guards from the regions of Tavush, Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, and Ararat,” a government spokesperson announced at the time.
When the CSTO convened for a summit in November, Pashinyan did not attend, opting to avoid a meeting with the Russian leader.
Russia expressed disappointment over Armenia’s absence and urged the country not to abandon the alliance. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, also a CSTO member, was more outspoken. “If you have complaints, you must express them in face-to-face conversations instead of dumping things on the media,” he said.
