Lavrov blames Armenian leadership for deliberately undermining relations with Moscow

REGION  28 March 2024 - 21:09

"The situation in relations between Armenia and Russia is not optimistic due to the position of the Armenian leadership, which deliberately ruins relations with Russia," remarked Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an interview with Izvestia, as reported by Caliber.Az.

Lavrov expressed concern over Armenia's apparent disregard for fostering positive relations, stating, "It certainly does not inspire optimism. The Armenian leadership under far-fetched pretexts, twisting the history of the last three or three and a half years, is deliberately pursuing a course of collapsing relations with the Russian Federation."

He pointed out instances of unwarranted criticism aimed at Russian servicemen stationed at the 102nd military base in Gyumri, as well as border guards and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as a whole.

Despite the CSTO's history of supporting Armenia's interests and its willingness to deploy a peacekeeping mission in 2021 amid tensions with Azerbaijan, Lavrov lamented the lack of acknowledgment from Yerevan.

Furthermore, he criticized Armenian leadership, including Prime Minister Pashinyan and parliamentary officials, for distorting recent events to fit their narrative.

Lavrov concluded by highlighting the consistent deterioration in Armenian-Russian relations in recent months, noting Armenia's abstention from CSTO exercises and rejection of a quota for the organization's deputy secretary-general, exacerbating mutual accusations and diplomatic tensions.

Caliber.Az