President Vladimir Putin has approved a government proposal on creating joint Russian and Armenian military forces, the Interfax news agency reported. One of the joint forces' main tasks will be to cover Russia and Armenia's land borders and work within the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a regional military alliance of post-Soviet states.
According to a presidential decree, Putin has ordered the Russian Defense Ministry and the Foreign Ministry to hold talks with Armenia on reaching an agreement.
The two sides are creating a joint command, whose leader will be appointed by the Supreme Commander of the Armenian Armed Forces in agreement with the Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces. During peacetime, the commander of the joint forces will be subordinate to Armenia's military Chief of Staff. During wartime, he will be subordinate to the commander of Russia's southern military district or the Armenian Chief of Staff, depending on the situation and the decision of both militaries' chief commanders.
The military cooperation project was proposed by the Defense Ministry with the agreement of the Foreign Ministry and other interested federal agencies.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
