Commenting on reports of possible risks to Armenia and Azerbaijan's membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Russian deputy foreign minister Aleksandr Pankin told RIA Novosti, that there are no grounds for such rumors.

According to him, relations between the two countries are in the process of normalization.

"Who are the risks from? For whom and by whom? In fact, membership in the CIS is voluntary," the Russian diplomat said.

Pankin noted that Armenia and Azerbaijan regularly join joint statements and documents adopted at various levels within the CIS.

"I don't know where the word ‘risk’ came from. It is a free association of states. Moreover, we see that relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are being normalized. We hope that this will become a positive factor for their further participation in the CIS," concluded the Russian deputy FM.