Russian FM: EU Mission in Armenia is Turning Into a NATO Mission

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed concern over the deteriorating relations between Armenia and Russia, accusing the Armenian leadership of deliberately sabotaging ties with Moscow. In an interview with Izvestia on March 28, Lavrov highlighted the Armenian government's actions, which he claims are exacerbating the already strained relationship between the two countries.

"The situation in relations between Armenia and Russia does not inspire optimism due to the position of the Armenian leadership, which deliberately ruins relations with the Russian Federation," Lavrov stated, expressing his discontent with the current state of affairs.

Lavrov criticized Armenia's leadership for what he perceives as baseless attacks on Russian servicemen stationed at the 102nd military base in Gyumri, as well as on the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) as a whole. He accused Yerevan of neglecting the contributions made by the CSTO in defending Armenia's interests during times of crisis.

Referring to past instances where the CSTO had offered support to Armenia, Lavrov mentioned the organization's readiness to send a peacekeeping mission to the country in 2021 to alleviate tensions with Azerbaijan. However, he lamented that Armenia, under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's leadership, rejected the CSTO's assistance and instead opted for an EU mission.

Lavrov expressed dissatisfaction with the expansion of the EU mission in Armenia, which now includes troops from Norway, Canada, and the United States, effectively transforming it into a NATO mission. He criticized Pashinyan and other Armenian leaders for distorting the narrative surrounding these events, accusing them of misrepresenting the circumstances to undermine Russia's influence in the region.

"This whole story of the past few years is being twisted by both Mr. Pashinyan and his staff, the leadership of the Armenian parliament," Lavrov remarked, pointing to what he sees as a concerted effort to marginalize Russia's role in Armenian affairs.

The remarks made by Lavrov underscore the growing tensions between Armenia and Russia, as the two countries navigate complex geopolitical dynamics and competing interests in the South Caucasus region. As accusations and counter-accusations continue to fly, the future of Armenian-Russian relations remains uncertain.