Simonyan: Yerevan's purchase of weapons outside the CSTO bloc is a "diplomatic victory"

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan said that his country's purchase of weapons from outside the CSTO bloc is a "diplomatic victory."

"I believe that the international direction is one of the most successful in our policy. This is unprecedented: for a CSTO member state to receive weapons or even one cartridge from a country that is not a member of this organization. This is not just a supply - it is a political message. It does not matter what exactly is transferred, the action itself is important," Simonyan explained.

He also added that Armenia does not intend to return to the trilateral format with the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan to unblock communications.

In June 2024, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Armen Grigoryan reported that Russia's share in the structure of arms and military equipment supplies to Armenia fell from the previous 96% to less than 10%. He emphasized that this happened due to the fault of the Russian Federation itself. The main suppliers of weapons for Armenia were France and India, as well as a number of European countries.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a regional international organization created to "protect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of its member states. The bloc includes the Russian Federation, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Since last year, Armenia has not actually participated in the activities of the CSTO.

Последние новости
The North Caucasus republics ranked last in the car affordability rankings for families
Economy
The North Caucasus republics ranked last in the car affordability rankings for families
8 December 2025

A RIA Novosti study revealed significant differences in car affordability across Russian regions. The worst situation is observed in the North Caucasus republics, where only a small proportion of families can afford to purchase and maintain a new car on credit.

Former Georgian Interior Ministry Official: Banned Substance Used to Disperse Rally at Central Election Commission in 2020
Politics
Former Georgian Interior Ministry Official: Banned Substance Used to Disperse Rally at Central Election Commission in 2020
8 December 2025

Former Georgian Interior Ministry official Lasha Shergelashvili, who served as the head of the Armaments Department of the Special Operations Directorate, said on Formula TV that a banned substance was used to suppress a protest outside the Central Election Commission in 2020. When asked if he had any suspicions, he replied that he "knew for sure that it was used" as he was there at the time.

The Speaker of the Russian State Duma questioned Georgia's prospects for European integration due to its adoption of an anti-LGBT law
Politics
The Speaker of the Russian State Duma questioned Georgia's prospects for European integration due to its adoption of an anti-LGBT law
8 December 2025

Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin recalled that anti-LGBT laws have been in effect in Russia for three years, prohibiting any propaganda of LGBT rights, pedophilia, and gender reassignment. He also noted that, according to the amendment to the country's Constitution, "marriage is a union between a man and a woman," emphasizing that this is the choice of Russian citizens.

Regions of the North Caucasus Federal District (NCFD) have demonstrated the lowest alcohol consumption in Russia
Society
Regions of the North Caucasus Federal District (NCFD) have demonstrated the lowest alcohol consumption in Russia
8 December 2025

Alcohol consumption among Russians has been steadily declining. November 2025 saw the eighth consecutive monthly decline, bringing the figures close to the minimum levels of 1997-1998.