During a government hour in the National Assembly, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that he had been in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. He also noted that Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, did not have the authority to speak on his behalf. Pashinyan suggested that the Russian side could interpret his words and choose whether to act on them. This summary of his remarks was reported by ArmenPress.
He emphasized that his discussions in Russia were with the President and the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. He added that even a representative of the foreign ministry from a country regarded as a friendly partner could not speak for him, though notes could be taken. These comments appeared to respond to Zakharova’s statements concerning a potential withdrawal of Armenia from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Separately, Dmitry Novikov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Relations, announced that Armenia was examining the possibility of leaving the CSTO, arguing that such a move did not align with Armenia’s national interests. The remarks reflect ongoing debates within Armenia about its security alignments and regional partnerships, and they underscore the sensitive balance the government seeks to maintain in its foreign policy. (ArmenPress)