A top official of the Russian-backed CSTO military alliance today said that Armenia’s decision not to host CSTO military exercises this year doesn’t violate the alliance’s rules.

On January 10, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia wouldn’t host a scheduled CSTO military exercise, arguing it would be “inappropriate” given the continued closure of the Lachin Corridor.

CSTO Joint Staff Head Colonel-General Anatoly Sidorov, at a press conference today according to Tass, said any CSTO member has the right not to host military exercises.

Sidirov said CSTO countries are ready to “stand behind” their allies if necessary.

The Armenian government has criticized CSTO for failing to respond to Azerbaijani military incursions into sovereign Armenian territory.

The Pashinyan government has also accused Russian peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh of inaction to reopen the Lachin Corridor.

Update: CSTO has announced that it will hold its “Indestructible Brotherhood-2023” military exercises in Kazakhstan instead of Armenia. Official Yerevan has yet to announce whether it will participate in the exercises.