​The Kremlin has tried to play down reports that the Russian-led security alliance of former Soviet countries is weakening after the war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmytro Peskov said on Sunday that attempts to break up the alliance had always existed, but stressed that it would remain in high demand despite criticism this week from Armenia, Reuters and the Guardian reported.

Pasinyan distances himself from Putin in a group photoPhoto: Rapture

At a summit this week, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan questioned the effectiveness of the six-nation Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

During a “family” photo of the leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) countries in Yerevan on Wednesday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan moved away from Putin, who was sitting to his left.

Pashinyan then refused to sign a statement at the summit and criticized the recent failures of the CSTO, which binds Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan with a mutual defense agreement.

The criticism from Armenia followed comments by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the UN General Assembly in September, in which he indirectly criticized Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“It is depressing that Armenia’s membership in the CSTO did not deter Azerbaijan from aggressive actions. We could not get an answer from the CSTO regarding Azerbaijan’s aggression against Armenia,” he accused.

“These facts cause serious damage to the image of the CSTO both inside our country and abroad, and I consider this the main failure of the Armenian chairmanship of the CSTO,” he emphasized.

Reuters reported on Sunday that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said efforts to dismantle the CSTO had always existed and would continue, but insisted the alliance remained in high demand despite criticism this week from Armenia.

“There have always been attempts (to achieve) the disintegration of the CSTO,” news agencies quoted Peskov as saying in an interview broadcast on state television.

“But at least now we see that despite all the difficulties, despite the possible contradictions even between the participating countries, this structure remains in great demand,” he said. “And it fully demonstrated its relevance and effectiveness, that is, the solution to the situation in Kazakhstan.”

Russia, the dominant player in the CSTO, risks losing influence in parts of the former Soviet Union it once considered its sphere of influence as the conflict in Ukraine enters its tenth month.

Kazakhstan opposed the war in Ukraine

Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev, who has openly challenged key ally Russia over its actions in Ukraine, won re-election this month and is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian city of Orenburg on Monday.

Kazakhstan rejected requests to send troops to fight Russia at the start of the war and sent planes with humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Kazakhstan has also refused to recognize the separatist republics of Luhansk and Donetsk, created by Russia in southern Ukraine, as the country’s president Kassym-Iomart Tokayev intended to tell Russian President Vladimir Putin during an economic forum in St. Petersburg in June. to Insider.

Kazakhstan’s official position on the war is to call for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution, Magzhan Iliasov, Kazakhstan’s new ambassador to the UK, told a press conference attended by Insider.

“We are neighbors with the Russian Federation. There are parts of our community and society that are very concerned about what happened. There are some people who can extrapolate the scenario that this could happen to Kazakhstan,” he said.