Moscow hits back at Pashinyan over Russia’s role in Armenia’s security

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has sharply criticised Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accusing him of shifting responsibility for the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict onto Moscow and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

Zakharova made the remarks in response to a recent briefing by Pashinyan, who was asked why Armenia’s government program for 2026–2031 no longer describes relations with Russia as a “strategic alliance.”

Pashinyan pointed to the events of 2022, arguing that Russia and the CSTO had failed to fulfil their security commitments to Armenia.

“Nikol Vovaevich, the elections in your country are over. You can stop pulling the wool over the eyes of your population. Summon the courage and at least once tell the truth about how everything really happened,” Zakharova said.

She argued that Russia had facilitated a peaceful settlement in September 2022 and that the CSTO had responded promptly to Armenia’s appeal.

Zakharova also accused Pashinyan of deflecting responsibility onto a wide range of actors, including Russia, the CSTO, Azerbaijan, Armenia’s previous leadership, the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian entrepreneurs, Armenians from Karabakh, and their ancestors and children.

“When you are asked uncomfortable questions, stop absolving yourself of blame, shifting responsibility away from yourself and onto everyone you can reach, everyone you personally dislike: Moscow, the CSTO, Azerbaijan, the previous Armenian leadership, the Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian entrepreneurs whom you are now so actively fighting, the Armenians of Karabakh, their ancestors and their children. This is shameless,” Zakharova said.

By Tamilla Hasanova