"Armenia has not recognized the independence and sovereignty of Nagorno-Karabakh. This meant that from the point of view of international law, both Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions were and still are an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Russia 1 TV channel in response to a question about the territorial affiliation of Nagorno-Karabakh.Vladimir Putin noted that the terms of CSTO membership did not force Russia to intervene in the conflict."The CSTO agreement provides for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against the territory of a member state."No one has invaded the territory of the Republic of Armenia, and this does not give us any right to directly participate in military operations," the Russian leader said.