Armenia states strategic mistake relying on Russia as security guarantor - Reuters
Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (photo: facebook.com tv360)
Armenia made a "strategic mistake" by relying on the Russian Federation as the sole guarantor of security, says Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, according to Reuters.
Pashinyan stated that Armenia's policy, which relied solely on Russia as the guarantor of its security, was a strategic mistake.
"The security architecture of Armenia was 99.99% tied to Russia, including matters related to the purchase of weapons and ammunition. But today we see that Russia itself needs weapons and ammunition, and in this situation, it becomes clear that even with Russia's desire, it won't be able to meet Armenia's security needs. This example should show us that dependence solely on one partner for security matters is a strategic mistake," said the Prime Minister.
He also accused Russia of being unable to secure Armenia from "aggression from neighboring Azerbaijan regarding Nagorno-Karabakh."
Furthermore, Pashinyan criticized Russian peacekeepers stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh, alleging that they were not fulfilling their duties.
The conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh has been ongoing for over 30 years. During the Soviet era, the territory belonged to the Azerbaijani SSR but was predominantly populated by Armenians. In 1991, the region declared "independence" and named itself the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, with the support of Armenia.
Since then, the region has witnessed periodic military conflicts. The latest escalation began in March of this year, leading to casualties.
It's worth noting that yesterday, Pashinyan stated that the Russian Federation, through its actions or inaction in the South Caucasus, is distancing itself from him.
