We do not question the sovereign right of each and every country to independently determine its foreign policy course, including participation in CSTO-related events and future work in the organization. Yerevan de jure remains a full member of the CSTO, which is the only mechanism for ensuring peace and stability in the South Caucasus. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), stated this at Wednesday’s press briefing.

"Armenia maintains all relevant rights and responsibilities. We expect that in the interests of the future security of the friendly country and indeed of the entire region, our partnership with Armenia within the framework of the CSTO will be fully restored.

We confirm that at this phase the doors are open for Yerevan to return to full-scale cooperation within the CSTO. We expect that our Armenian colleagues, overcoming [their] suspicions, will resume the joint work of interest," stressed the Russian MFA spox.