On June 30, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, addressed the status of Armenia within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and expressed concern over attacks on the Armenian church, while Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan firmly rejected Lavrov’s remarks and warned Russia against interfering in Armenia’s internal affairs. During a press conference following the meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers in Kyrgyzstan, Sergey Lavrov stated that although recent developments in Armenia are its internal matter, the attacks targeting the church were alarming. Lavrov emphasized, "The church has always been one of the key pillars of Armenian society, and we would very much like to see this church not subjected to unjustified attacks without any serious grounds."Lavrov reaffirmed that Armenia remained a full member of the CSTO but stressed that such membership carried obligations, including participation in organizational activities and financial contributions. He noted that Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had again refused to attend the CSTO Foreign Ministers' meeting. Lavrov remarked that leaders of CSTO member states were aware of Yerevan’s shifting posture and cited recent statements by the Armenian leadership about reconsidering ties with the Eurasian Economic Union and the CSTO, suggesting that a final decision on Armenia’s membership might soon be made. Lavrov concluded, "We are not putting any pressure on the Armenian leadership and will wait for clarity on all these issues, but we all understand that if Armenia turns away from its allies, its closest partners, and its neighbors, it is unlikely to benefit the Armenian people."Responding on the same day at a joint press conference in Yerevan with Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Ararat Mirzoyan, the Armenian Foreign Minister, criticized Lavrov’s comments. Mirzoyan stated, "Before the press conference, I had time to read the comments of my dear colleague Lavrov. Mr. Lavrov's information is incomplete and incorrect." He rejected the claim of a conflict between Armenian authorities and the church, clarifying that the issue involved a group of clergymen allegedly linked to an illegal coup attempt, which he described as a legal matter solely within Armenia’s jurisdiction. Mirzoyan stressed that it would be preferable for Lavrov and other Russian officials and media representatives to avoid interfering in Armenia’s domestic affairs and urged them to show greater respect for the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.