{"id":190649,"date":"2026-06-05T11:35:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/190649\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T11:35:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:35:38","slug":"pashinyan-we-will-not-let-lukasenka-be-our-guarantor-again","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/190649\/","title":{"rendered":"Pashinyan: we will not let \u0141uka\u0161enka be our guarantor again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (president.gov.by file photo)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

June 5,\u00a0Pozirk.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said during a televised election debate that his country might withdraw from the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), news.am<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will decide. Foreign agents will not decide what to do. We will not let [Alaksandar] \u0141uka\u0161enka be our guarantor again,\u201d Pashinyan, leader of the Civil Contract, told his rival Narek Karapetyan, who is advocating closer ties with Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karapetyan criticized Pashinyan for freezing Armenia\u2019s membership in the CSTO. He said that Armenia should have pulled out if the CSTO failed to provide security guarantees.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will withdraw from the CSTO. What are you trying to scare us? Neither you nor your uncle [Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan] decide. We will decide and pull out. Armenia is the guarantor, its state and army,\u201d Pashinyan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Belarus\u2019 \u0141uka\u0161enka has recently joined the Kremlin in its attempt to influence Armenia\u2019s parliamentary election, scheduled for June 7, in Russia\u2019s favor and oust Pashinyan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Armenians should be very careful in order, God forbid, not to repeat what has happened in Ukraine,\u201d the Belarusian ruler said after a Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Astana on May 29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier that day, the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia issued a statement urging Armenia to hold a referendum as soon as possible on whether to remain in the EAEU or pursue membership in the European Union (EU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka said that Armenia\u2019s leadership and people must understand what they stand to gain or lose. He made it clear that Armenia would lose access to cheap Russian gas, noting that the country currently buys natural gas from Russia at $150\u2013$160 per 1,000 cubic meters, while European market prices range from $550\u2013$650 for the same volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka has long been critical of Armenia\u2019s European aspirations. On one occasion, he claimed that nobody needs Armenia except the EAEU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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