Kremlin to continue dialogue with Armenia on withdrawal from CSTO

Spokesman for the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that Russia will talk with Armenia on the subject of its further participation in the activities of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

Commenting on the words of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who named the conditions under which Yerevan can leave the CSTO, Peskov noted that the organisation has authority among the member states, Gazeta.ru reports.

“[CSTO] Demonstrates its effectiveness in various situations. As for the statement of the Armenian prime minister, we will continue the dialogue with our Armenian friends. We will also talk with them on the subject of our further participation in the activities of the CSTO,” the Kremlin spokesman said.

He noted that the CSTO has the potential for further development.

Earlier, Pashinyan said that his country would decide to withdraw from the CSTO if it considers it an "incapable" structure. According to the prime minister, such an agenda is being considered if the CSTO becomes inactive. The PM also noted that in this case, Armenia will solve its own security issues.

Meanwhile, Pashinyan also expressed concern about the rhetoric aired on Russian federal channels regarding Armenia and the Armenian people.

“This issue is periodically discussed with Russian colleagues, but the answer does not change - the press is free and they cannot restrict it. We took note of this position, but we will continue to work in this direction,” he said in response to a question about the fact that unflattering statements are made against the authorities and the people on federal Russian channels.

At the same time, the prime minister noted that inside Armenia, the authorities are criticized for allowing propaganda in the public multiplex network, and at the expense of the country's citizens.

“The pressure on us is growing. This, of course, worries,” Pashinyan said, noting that the Russian side also raises a similar problem and the Armenian side replies that the media is also free in Armenia.

According to him, such issues create additional difficulties, but he does not want to limit the media. In this context, the prime minister informed that an Armenian-Russian media forum is planned in Armenia and called on journalists to voice the issue during profile discussions.