Armenian FM’s absence at CIS session slammed as government's misstep

Armen Rustamyan, a member of the Armenian parliament representing the Armenia faction, conveyed his perspective to reporters, as reported by Caliber.Az, regarding Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan's decision not to participate in the session of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry previously announced Mirzoyan's absence from the CIS Ministerial Council meeting scheduled for April 12 in Minsk, describing it as another questionable government move.

"We can express dissatisfaction with the CSTO, a strategic ally, on numerous issues, but any attempts to alter our alignment and introduce the Russia-West confrontation would have dire consequences for Armenia itself. Unfortunately, this is the direction the authorities are steering towards," Rustamyan remarked.

Despite assertions of diversifying the security system, Rustamyan argued that the reality doesn't align with such claims.

"Why, then, does Yerevan abstain from participating in CIS meetings and raising Armenia's concerns? What's the impediment?" questioned the politician.

Rustamyan suggested that the West is pressuring Armenia to align with an anti-Russian stance, a demand he believes the government is capitulating to.

Earlier, Armenia had declined to dispatch a high-level delegation to the 101st session of the CIS Economic Council in Moscow.