Speaking at a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) foreign ministers in Kyrgyzstan, Lavrov stressed the need to resolve the ongoing crisis within the framework of Armenia’s constitution while fully safeguarding citizens’ rights and religious freedoms.
Lavrov noted that Russia is closely monitoring developments and hopes for a peaceful settlement that ensures the protection of believers’ rights and other human rights, reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to respecting Armenia’s sovereignty and non-interference in its domestic affairs.
The Russian minister added that the CSTO members were informed of the Armenian foreign minister’s absence, emphasizing that Armenia retains its full membership rights in the organization. He warned, however, that if Yerevan chooses to distance itself from its partners, "this will not serve the interests of the Armenian people."
Armenia is currently experiencing heightened political tensions, with authorities arresting several prominent clergy and businessmen, including Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan and tycoon Samvel Karapetyan, in what the opposition has described as an escalating government crackdown.
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