Amid ongoing tensions, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced that his country would not hold joint drills with Russia this year.
Pashinian’s announcement came after the leader of the ex-Soviet republic criticized Moscow and the work of Russian peacekeepers in the South Caucasus, which has been plagued for decades because of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the former’s occupation of the latter’s lands.
Speaking to reporters, Pashinian said he saw no reason for the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to stage military drills in Armenia this year, saying that they are “inappropriate in the current situation.”
“These exercises will not take place,” he told reporters.
“Armenia does not believe it is expedient to conduct CSTO exercises in the republic this year.”
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