Conducting military exercises in the territory of Armenia is the sovereign decision of the Republic of Armenia. Khandanyan

I do not want to describe the Armenian-Russian relations as tense, but I am recording the facts, and these facts were recorded not only today, but also yesterday and in previous months. Sargis Khandanyan, chairman of the NA Foreign Relations Committee, said this today, September 7, in a conversation with journalists at the National Assembly, addressing the question of whether Russia's inaction in Artsakh is the cause of tension in relations.

Referring to the fact that Russia called the holding of Armenian-American military exercises in Armenia a concern, Khandanyan said. "It is the sovereign decision of Armenia. I understand that different parties may have dissatisfaction, express dissatisfaction, but this is the sovereign decision of Armenia. Also, you know that these are exercises aimed at improving Armenian-American peacekeeping cooperation, which should take place next week. This is a result of the deepening Armenian-American relations."

When asked whether there were discussions with the Russian side before the decision to hold military exercises, Khandanyan answered. "I have no information, maybe there were."

He also noted that Armenia, being a CSTO member, does not lose its sovereignty in any way, especially considering the CSTO's way of working in Armenia and towards Armenia.