A statement from the prime minister’s office said he had informed authoritarian Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenko that he would not attend the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Minsk on November 23, but did not provide details.
The members of this organization are Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as Armenia and Belarus.
Armenia and Russia have been allies since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, with a Russian military base in Armenia, but their differences have worsened in recent years.
Azerbaijan and Armenia’s war over Nagorno-Karabakh ended in 2020 with a Moscow-brokered ceasefire that saw Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region. However, Armenia was unhappy that the peacekeepers did not end the blockade of the road to Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan, even though this was one of their mandates.
Armenia, in turn, angered Russia by voting to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), which this year indicted Kremlin mastermind Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes related to the war in Ukraine.
N. Pashinyan canceled the CSTO exercises that were supposed to take place in his country this year, and in October he refused to participate in the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Kyrgyzstan.
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#Armenian #Prime #Minister #refused #participate #Moscowled #summit
2024-09-17 00:02:30
What are the reasons behind PM Pashinyan’s decision to skip the CSTO summit in Minsk?
Table of Contents
Armenia’s Snub: PM Pashinyan to Skip CSTO Summit in Minsk, Straining Relations with Russia
In a move that is likely to further strain Armenia’s relations with Russia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced that he will not attend the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Minsk, Belarus, on November 23. The decision comes amidst growing tensions between Armenia and Russia, two long-time allies that have seen their differences worsen in recent years.
Background: Armenia-Russia Relations
Armenia and Russia have enjoyed a strong alliance since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Russia maintains a military base in Armenia, and the two countries have cooperated on various security and economic issues. However, in recent years, their relations have become increasingly strained.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
The latest point of contention between Armenia and Russia is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan. The conflict ended in 2020 with a Moscow-brokered ceasefire that saw Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region. However, Armenia has been unhappy with the terms of the ceasefire, which did not result in the lifting of the blockade of the road to Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan, one of the mandates of the Russian peacekeeping forces.
ICC membership and Kremlin Indictment
Armenia’s decision to vote in favor of joining the International Criminal Court (ICC) has also angered Russia. The ICC this year indicted Kremlin mastermind Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes related to the war in Ukraine, a move that has further strained relations between Armenia and Russia.
CSTO Exercises and CIS Summit
In recent months, Armenia has taken several steps to distance itself from Russia. In October, PM Pashinyan canceled the CSTO exercises that were supposed to take place in Armenia, citing concerns over the organization’s effectiveness. Additionally, he refused to participate in the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Kyrgyzstan.
Implications of Armenia’s Snub
The implications of Armenia’s snub are far-reaching. The CSTO is a regional security organization dominated by Russia, and Armenia’s absence from the summit will likely be seen as a significant setback for Moscow’s influence in the region. The move could also embolden Azerbaijan, which has been seeking to capitalize on Armenia’s differences with Russia to its advantage.
Conclusion
Armenia’s decision to skip the CSTO summit in Minsk is a significant development that highlights the growing tensions between Armenia and Russia. The move is likely to have far-reaching implications for regional security and could potentially redraw the geopolitical landscape of the Caucasus region.
Keywords: Armenia, Russia, CSTO, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, ICC, Vladimir Putin, Nikol Pashinyan, Minsk, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikstan.
Armenia has also expressed dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of the CSTO in providing security assurances against Azerbaijan’s aggression, further complicating its relationship with Moscow.
Armenia’s Snub: PM Pashinyan to Skip CSTO Summit in Minsk, Straining Relations with Russia
In a move that is likely to further strain Armenia’s relations with Russia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced that he will not attend the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Minsk, Belarus, on November 23. The decision comes amidst growing tensions between Armenia and Russia, two long-time allies that have seen their differences worsen in recent years.
Background: Armenia-Russia Relations
Armenia and Russia have enjoyed a strong alliance since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Russia maintains a military base in Armenia, and the two countries have cooperated on various security and economic issues. However, in recent years, their relations have become increasingly strained.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
The latest point of contention between Armenia and Russia is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan. The conflict ended in 2020 with a Moscow-brokered ceasefire that saw Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region. However, Armenia has been unhappy with the terms of the ceasefire, which did not result in the lifting of the blockade of the road to Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan, one of the mandates of the Russian peacekeeping forces.
ICC Membership and Kremlin Indictment
Armenia’s decision to vote in favor of joining the International Criminal Court (ICC) has also angered Russia. The ICC this year indicted Kremlin mastermind Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes related to the war in Ukraine, a move that has further strained relations between Armenia and Russia.
CSTO Exercises and CIS Summit
In recent months,
