"Armenia shifts responsibility for its own missteps onto the CSTO" Expert opinions on Caliber.Az

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has once again revived the old refrain about the CSTO's indifference to defending Armenia's sovereignty. "Armenia…never received real support…This indifferent attitude led to enormous frustration," Mirzoyan said in an interview with Finland's Lännen Media. He also mentioned that Armenia is deepening its ties with European partners.

Why has Yerevan suddenly started talking about "past grievances" again? Caliber.Az's correspondent posed this question to Russian experts.

According to Stanislav Pritchin, head of the Central Asia Sector at the Center for Post-Soviet Studies of the IMEMO RAS, Mirzoyan's remarks seem at least strange, especially in light of statements made by the Armenian Prime Minister last week, specifically that Armenia's relations with the CSTO have reached a point of no return.

"Particularly when you consider that Pashinyan's statement was essentially a response to Vladimir Putin's remark that there are currently no documents confirming Armenia's withdrawal from the CSTO. Moreover, Pashinyan appeared to hint that Armenia is leaning toward exiting the organization after suspending its activities within the CSTO.

However, Mirzoyan's statement adds its own nuance. It is quite clear that Yerevan's current strategy involves hesitating to take a definitive step toward leaving the bloc while simultaneously voicing grievances against it. This allows Armenia to repeatedly shift responsibility for its own mistakes and missteps onto the CSTO," Pritchin concluded.

According to Eurasia expert, economist, and political scientist Alexander Razuvayev, Armenia constantly exists in the aura of a certain historical paradox.

"No one attacked Armenia, and Armenia itself did not recognize the independence of separatist Karabakh because they understood that they had taken what belonged to someone else. The Russian Foreign Ministry has always emphasized that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko aptly noted that the CSTO includes Turkic countries. Russia also has a significant Turkic component: Kazan, Ufa, and so on. What did Armenia expect? That Turks would fight Turks?

Moreover, Armenia itself spoiled relations with Minsk—Alexander Grigoryevich does not tolerate disrespect, and Yerevan should keep that in mind. Therefore, the purpose of Armenia's presence in the CSTO is unclear—they have already stated their intention to sever ties with Russia and are now clearly focusing on cooperation with NATO, likely with an eye on seeking revenge.

There is a saying: 'If God wants to punish a nation, He deprives it of reason.' Yes, Armenia might attempt to take revenge, but in doing so, it risks becoming part of Azerbaijan. Harsh ethnic nationalism has never brought any nation to prosperity," the political scientist remarked.

According to Alexander Razuvayev, Armenia fundamentally appears and functions as a failed state that constantly requires an external patron, overseer, or "protector."

"Why is it impossible for Armenia to exist without external patronage and establish normal relations with its regional neighbors? In my view, Armenia's main patron is France. It is also evident that Trump has no interest in Armenia or its intrigues; he won’t risk straining relations with Azerbaijan and Türkiye for the sake of Armenia.

Yerevan has always been a source of contradictory statements, but it is clear that their break with the CSTO is final, stemming from their failure to grasp that no one owes them anything," Razuvayev concluded.