Yerevan supports placing Russian air defense system in Armenia
The Armenian Parliament has ratified the government’s decision to combine its air defense system with that of Russia. The governmental proposal was adopted by the Armenian Parliament on the 30th of June despite protests from the opposition. 102 People’s Deputies voted in favor of this proposal while 8 voted against it.
Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are all members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Moscow strengthened its military cooperation with CSTO member states following the souring of relations with the West. Those relations began to deteriorate in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supporting pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas. Moscow denies the accusations, stating that any Russian soldiers in Donbas are there as volunteers.