Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated that Armenia is becoming a tool for the West in its confrontation with Russia.

Galuzin added that, as before, Moscow considers Yerevan an ally in the South Caucasus, TASS reports.

“Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently stressed in an interview that his country’s political course does not imply harming Russia’s interests. However, we see that the pace of military-political and economic cooperation between Yerevan and Western states and institutions is accelerating. We have repeatedly told our Armenian partners that for the West — and this is no longer concealed there — Armenia serves as a geopolitical instrument in the struggle against Moscow,” Galuzin said.

According to him, Yerevan is aware of Moscow’s principled position that membership in the European Union is incompatible with participation in the Eurasian Economic Union. The deputy minister stressed that if Armenia moves into the regulatory framework of another integration bloc, it will be unable to ensure compliance with the norms and rules of the EAEU, which would lead to corresponding consequences.

“We expect that pragmatism will prevail in the republic. The high growth rates of the Armenian economy, low inflation, stability of the national currency, and a broad market for Armenian products — all this is guaranteed by cooperation with Russia and within the EAEU framework,” the deputy minister noted.

Galuzin added that in Russia it is believed that bilateral cooperation and coordinated work within Eurasian structures have formed the basis for Armenia’s future development.

The diplomat also stated that the Collective Security Treaty Organization is closely monitoring Armenia’s steps to assess their compliance with obligations undertaken within the organization. According to Galuzin, it is fundamental for Moscow, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized, that Yerevan has maintained its status as a full-fledged member of the organization.

Earlier, in an interview with Armenia’s Public Television, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated: “Harming Russia’s interests is not on our agenda, has not been and will not be. This is excluded, and no one can drag us into actions against Russia,” adding that the country’s authorities have consistently been guided by national interests.