Russian leader blames Armenia for recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan

Russian President Vladimir Putin linked difficulties in relations with Armenia to the situation in Karabakh.

At the same time, the president stressed that "it was not Russia that gave up Karabakh, but Armenia itself recognized it as part of Azerbaijan," Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

"It was not Russia that gave up Karabakh, but Armenia itself, and proactively and without informing Moscow," the Russian president said during the press conference "Results of the Year".

In Putin's opinion, it is not in Armenia's interests to give up membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Putin attributed the growth in nationalism, including Islamophobia, on the actions of specific elites.

The Russian president admitted that there is a tendency towards an increase in Russophobia and Islamophobia in the world.

“In my opinion, this is because people face injustice,” the Russian leader noted.

At the same time, he added that the fact that representatives of different nationalities and religions coexist in Russia is an advantage.