Pashinyan says Armenia has grounds not to view Russia as strategic partner
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on August 27 that Armenia has grounds not to consider Russia a strategic partner, citing Moscow's failure to meet security obligations during Azerbaijan's September 2022 incursion near Jermuk. The statement came as he presented the government's 2026-2031 program, which omits the term 'strategic partnership' with Russia. Pashinyan also said Armenia would welcome exclusion from the CSTO and plans to apply for EU membership.
Key Facts
- Pashinyan said on August 27 that Armenia has grounds not to consider Russia a strategic partner, citing Russia's failure to meet security obligations during Azerbaijan's September 2022 incursion near Jermuk.
- The Armenian government's 2026-2031 program states that dialogue with Russia will continue toward transforming relations under new regional peace conditions, without using the term 'strategic partnership'.
- On September 16, 2022, Armenian Chief of General Staff Edvard Asryan reported that Azerbaijani soldiers advanced 7.5 km into Armenian territory near Jermuk, while Moscow and the CSTO did not fulfill their defense obligations.
- Pashinyan said on August 24 that Armenia will not reactivate its work in the CSTO and would be glad if the organization expelled Armenia.
- Pashinyan stated that Armenia must first submit an official EU membership application and that the process will likely begin soon.
Strategic Partnership Reassessment
Pashinyan told a press briefing in Yerevan on August 27 that after the September 2022 events near Jermuk, it is impossible to speak of strategic partnership with Russia. He said that if the government program for 2026-2031 included the term 'strategic partnership', he would be asked why Russia and the CSTO failed to fulfill security obligations in September 2022. The program states that dialogue aimed at mutually beneficial multi-sector cooperation with Russia will continue toward transforming relations under new conditions of regional peace and balanced foreign policy. Pashinyan earlier told parliament that the transformation in Armenia-Russia relations is a natural process because peace has been established between Yerevan and Baku.
CSTO Membership Stance
Pashinyan said on August 24 that Armenia does not plan to return to active work in the CSTO over the next five years and would be glad if the organization expelled Armenia. He noted that discussions on exclusion are ongoing in the CSTO and that its charter allows for expelling a member state. Armenia froze its participation in the CSTO in February 2024 and officially stopped funding the organization in May 2024 after it did not intervene in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan previously called the CSTO a 'bubble alliance' and accused some members of effectively supporting Baku.
EU Membership Application
Pashinyan commented on Russia's demand for a referendum on whether Armenia should remain in the Eurasian Economic Union or join the European Union. He said Armenia must first submit an official EU membership application, a process requiring large-scale work, and that the process will likely begin soon.
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Pashinyan says Armenia has grounds not to view Russia as strategic partner
