Former director of the National Security Service (NSS) and ambassador David Shahnazaryan believes that the Armenian authorities have created a new problem for Armenia’s security by sending troops to Kazakhstan within the framework of the CSTO. David Shahnazaryan spoke about this at the January 11 press conference held at Sputnik Armenia Multimedia Press Center.
“I consider it right to conduct a CSTO peacekeeping mission in Kazakhstan, but the participation of the Armenian contingent is a serious issue for Armenia’s security.”
According to David Shahnazaryan, in terms of security, it will cause serious problems for the Armenian community of Kazakhstan. He clarified, “Azerbaijani-Turkish propaganda has already started to actively show it almost all over the world, especially in the Turkish-language press, in Europe, as Russian-Armenian aggression in Kazakhstan. Articles appeared in the British press. This first of all leads to the formation of serious anti-Armenian sentiments in Kazakhstan. Armenia will be represented in the international arena as an occupier. This is dangerous for all our Armenian communities, embassies, and consulates. It is not ruled out that violent terrorist acts may be carried out against communities, embassies, which will be presented as a Kazakh-themed uprising. But they will be carried out by the special services of our enemy countries.”
David Shahnazaryan noted with regret that with this step, the Armenian authorities proved that they continue to dismantle the security systems, while they could have presented these arguments to Russia if they rebelled against sending a military unit to Kazakhstan. Then, he stated that Kazakhstan has never been a friendly country for Armenia, and now it is important to see what Kazakhstan will be like after all this, as he sees a danger that the pro-Turkish orientation may prevail in Kazakhstan after all this. The decision of the Kazakh government to start the withdrawal of the CSTO peacekeeping forces is very strange for him. “What? Does Tokayev already fully control the situation? Earlier he spoke about the attack of 20 thousand terrorists. Is he already able to ensure the stability of the country on its own?”
Read also
David Shahnazaryan considered it illogical to send an Armenian contingent to Kazakhstan and noted. “If we do not send troops to Verin Shorzha or Syunik, where there is a shortage of troops, but we send 100 people to Kazakhstan, I think this was at least wrong. There is no political force in Armenia that will support this decision, which is very dangerous for us. I am sure that no attempt has been made to explain to Russia that this is problematic for us. I hope they will not say where our hundred boys are, or that it is not a big problem for the Azerbaijani-Turkish special services, which serve with multiple activities, for which we will be the number one target, to find out very soon.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
