Armenia's withdrawal from CSTO should be based on the real needs of the country and not on the "games" of the West. Zakharova

The possible withdrawal of Armenia from the CSTO should be based on the real needs of the country and not on the "games" of the West, and this decision does not concern the real national interests of the country, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, told "RIA Novosti".

According to Zakharovai, each country is free to choose which associations it wants to develop relations with, depending on specific reasons and factors.

"It should be done based on reality, the real needs of the country and not to "play" it, not to give in to any temptation, you know, to another staging in the Western scenario. And you know, not playing it is very dangerous, because these are security issues," said Zakharova.

According to the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, he does not know why the politicians in Yerevan "impose an opinion on the negative role of the CSTO on the citizens of Armenia".

"It seems to me that this does not concern the real and national interests of Armenia. I think and I am sure, I have such information. That is what has been prepared somewhere in Brussels, that very information fodder, with which they are now trying to feed the citizens of Armenia abundantly, inventing some non-existent things about the CSTO. Surely nothing bad will happen to anyone from the CSTO," said Zakharova.

He noted that Yerevan will decide as a result, but it is not worth doing so on the basis of "non-existent" facts.

Zakharova added that Armenia itself will decide whether to stay in the CSTO or leave, but "we should not hide behind the CSTO, trying to avoid responsibility or find the one who is allegedly really guilty".