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The developments in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), Belarus and Kyrgyzstan have complicated the situation in the area of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an online summit of CSTO leaders on Wednesday.

“The situation within the CSTO sphere of responsibility has been quite challenging and generally quite turbulent. I am referring to the military conflict that broke out around Nagorno-Karabakh and involved a CSTO member state, as well as the post-election developments in Belarus when the country came under unprecedented external pressure. I am also referring to the internal political situation in Kyrgyzstan,” Putin said in his opening remarks.

The November 9 trilateral statement by Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan is being consistently implemented, he said.

“It is now time to work together to help people who suffered from the hostilities in this region, help resolve humanitarian issues, facilitate the return of refugees, restore infrastructure, and protect historical, religious and cultural monuments.

“Russia is already working on all these matters together with Yerevan and Baku. We are looking forward to our partners from the CSTO and the CIS joining these humanitarian efforts,” the Russian leader said.

In Putin's words, Armenia and the Armenian people “have really gone through a very difficult period in their history and the Armenian leadership, prime minister had to make painful but necessary decisions for the people of Armenia."

“Everybody at today's session understands the level of responsibility when such decisions are made. He [Nikol Pashinyan] took that responsibility,” Putin said, adding their task is to support the Armenian prime minister as well as his team in their efforts to establish peace, achieve the implementation of all the decisions made, and help people who found themselves in very difficult life situations.