Armenia is still a very important participant in both the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, reports TASS.

"Our Armenian colleagues do not participate in the CSTO [i.e. the Collective Security Treaty Organization], they have suspended their participation. Nevertheless, Armenia is still a very important participant in both the EAEU and the CIS. Both Armenia and the Armenian people receive a lot of dividends from this participation. So this is a two-way road: both the CIS and our Armenian friends are interested in this," Peskov told reporters.

The meeting of the leaders of the CIS countries traditionally takes place every year in late December in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This year, this unofficial summit is being held at the Igora ski resort—not far from Saint Petersburg.