Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused NATO countries' of attempting to use Armenia to promote their interests in the South Caucasus.
"As for stoking anti-Russian sentiments (in Armenia), this is being done artificially to a decisive degree. We know about the number of non-governmental organizations that have been established in Armenia in recent years, and there were many of them before," Lavrov told reporters after the session of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan today.
According to him, these organizations are not created to promote friendly relations between Armenia and the Russian Federation.
"It is just the opposite. They are aimed at creating a ground for anti-Russian sentiments and preparing for the promotion of interests, first of all, of the US and European Union and NATO countries in that region through Armenia. We see these attempts, they are achieving some results," Lavrov claimed.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan skipped the Bishkek meeting. Prime Minister Pashinyan likewise refused to attend a gathering of CIS leaders in Bishkek slated for Friday, ARKA reports.
