Obligations to Armenia within the Collective Security Treaty organization (CSTO) remain unchanged, Mikael Agasandyan, Director of the First Department of the CIS countries of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti on Monday, August 19.

According to Agasandyan, there are no alternative guarantors of stability for Armenia, except for the CSTO and Russia. "As for Armenia's participation in the general work of the CSTO, the line of retreat from such interaction has now prevailed in Yerevan,” the official said.

“This position, as we see it, contradicts the interests of the people of Armenia and significantly weakens national security. Ultimately, there are no alternatives to the CSTO and Russia as guarantors of the republic's stability. Mutual obligations within the Organization remain unchanged.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in February that Armenia has frozen its participation in the CSTO because the bloc had failed the country. "The Collective Security Treaty has not fulfilled its objectives as far as Armenia is concerned, particularly in 2021 and 2022. And we could not let that happen without taking notice," Pashinyan said in an interview with France 24.