Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan, at a meeting today in Minsk (Belarus) of the CSTO Committee of Secretaries of the Security Councils, called on members of the Russian-backed military alliance to adopt a “clear position” on the situation in Nagorno Karabakh and to prevent what he described as Baku’s policy of ethnic cleansing of the region’s Armenians.

Grigoryan has voiced criticism of CSTO’s inaction to reopen the Lachin Corridor, arguing that Russia is responsible for the Lachin Corridor based on the November 9, 2020 tripartite statement that ended the 2020 Artsakh war.

CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas, last December, said the Lachin Corridor issue does not fall within the purview of the Russian-backed military alliance.

Grigoryan reiterated the Armenian government’s call for the creation of an international mechanism to ensure the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Grigoryan also pointed out that CSTO has not denounced Azerbaijan's repeated aggression against Armenia.

In an interview with Armenia Public TV earlier this month, when asked to comment on whether Armenia benefits from being a CSTO member state, Grigoryan said, "It is difficult to give any example (of benefit) since 2020, because since that time there have been three full-scale Azerbaijani attacks against Armenia. And during those attacks, the CSTO did not provide any assistance to Armenia.”

In the interview, Grigoryan said CSTO only offered assistance after Armenia looked for and found an alternative, such as the EU civilian monitoring mission.

"The so-called military alliance offered a fact-finding mission to Armenia after three attacks on Armenia. This is not serious to say the least," Grigoryan said at the time.

Photo: Mirzoyan is seen on the far left