On November 15, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the Armenian side decided not to participate in the events under the auspices of the CSTO and CIS for various reasons.

Pashinyan noted that the CSTO, contrary to its obligations, has not properly responded to threats to Armenia's security. "The Armenian society does not understand why the country's leadership should participate in these events every time, raise security issues, and then come back with nothing," the prime minister noted.

Pashinyan further reproached the CSTO for the fact that the organization refuses to fix its de jure zone of responsibility in Armenia, and by participating in the meetings, official Yerevan seems to agree with the logic that questions the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. "I don't agree that we gave up the CSTO mission. Armenia asked where the CSTO was sending the mission, it was told - to Armenia. We asked to show Armenia in their view. We showed the Republic of Armenia and said it should be fixed, which the CSTO did not do. So far, the CSTO has not explained to us where these borders of Armenia are. Therefore, we cannot accept the organization's mission because it will turn out that we will legitimize the blurred image of the Republic of Armenia. In these conditions, we will also legitimize Azerbaijan's incursions," the premier explained.

Pashinyan added that Armenia is diversifying its relations in the security sphere. "Now we say: well, don't take offense at us, but we have to find alternative partners. We are looking for and finding these partners, making deals, trying to acquire weapons and military equipment," he said. "This is our policy. And strategically, we will not announce any change in our policy until we decide to withdraw from the CSTO," the Armenian leader concluded.