The Kremlin on Monday again rejected criticism of Russian troops stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh, responding to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who on Sunday called his country’s current alliances, especially with Moscow, “ineffective,” AFP and Agerpres reported.

Dmitry Peskov and Vladimir PutinPhoto: MAKSYM SHEMETOV / AFP / Profimedia

“We are categorically against attempts to place responsibility on the Russian side and the Russian peacekeeping forces (not in Nagorno-Karabakh), which are showing heroism,” Kremlin press secretary Dmytro Peskov told the press, rejecting any “objections” regarding alleged shortcomings.

“Armenia remains our ally, a close government, a close people to us,” he added, stressing that the “dialogue” between Moscow and Yerevan continues at various diplomatic levels, “especially in these difficult days.”

He assured that Russia will continue to “fulfill its obligations”, especially “to seek compliance with the rights of the residents of Karabakh”.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Sunday called his country’s current alliances “ineffective,” a veiled allusion to the old relationship with Moscow inherited from the days when Armenia was part of the USSR.

Armenia talks about the “betrayal” of allies

“Armenia has never abandoned its obligations and never betrayed its allies. But the analysis of the situation shows that the security systems and allies we have relied on for a long time have made it their mission to show us our vulnerability,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

Armenia is still part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance led by Russia, but had already shown signs of leaving, even before last week’s offensive by the Azerbaijani army in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The cooling of relations between Yerevan and its CSTO allies takes place in the context of the fact that in September of last year, in the context of the resumption of hostilities with Azerbaijan, the Armenian government demanded the activation of an article that provides that when one member is attacked, it is considered that they are all attacked, but his request was ignored.

Ethnic Armenians in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region began fleeing their homes to seek refuge in Armenia on Sunday, with their leaders saying there are 120,000 refugees.

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