Kremlin: CSTO summit pushed back at Armenia's requestDecember 4, 2018 - 17:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The summit of leaders of member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), scheduled for December 6, was canceled at the request of Armenia, which is preparing for elections,aide to the Russian President Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Tuesday, December 4. Acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said earlier that Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed postponing the summit. "Given, in particular, the request by the Armenian side referring to the campaign which ends with elections on December 9, it was decided that the CSTO [summit] meeting should not be held [on December 6]," he said. According to the Kremlin representative, Valery Semerikov thus remains the acting Secretary General of the CSTO. The CSTO Collective Security Council relieved Armenia’s Yuri Khachaturov of his duties as the organization’s secretary general in late October. On July 26, Armenia’s Special Investigative Service accused Khachaturov of overthrowing the constitutional order in 2008 and requested his arrest. Khachaturov, who was the Commander of the Armenian Armed Forces’ Yerevan Garrison back in 2008, pleaded not guilty. On July 28, the Yerevan City Court of General Jurisdiction released him on his own recognizance and a bail of about $10,000. The heads of CSTO member countries are to appoint a new chief by consensus. Top stories The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. The United States believes there should be an international mission to provide transparency. Partner news | Armenia: Opposition activist transferred to Investigative Committee Activist Samvel Vardanyan has been accused of insulting the lawmaker Hakob Aslanyan from the ruling Civil Contract party. Russia confirms start of withdrawal of peacekeepers from Karabakh The Kremlin has confirmed reports about the start of the withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces in Karabakh. France recalls its ambassador to Azerbaijan France on April 16 said it had recalled for consultations the French ambassador to Azerbaijan. Protesters rally as Georgia debates 'foreign agent' bill Georgian critics label the bill "the Russian law", comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent. |