The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) mechanism could not have been activated during the conflict over Karabakh because Armenia recognized the territory neither as part of its own territory nor as an independent state.

Axar.az reports, citing Russian media, that Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the remarks during a speech at the Gvardeysk youth forum.

"There was such a situation with Armenia. They would say, 'Let's activate the CSTO mechanism.' But the question was: in relation to whom and to what? They were referring to Karabakh, which Armenia itself recognized neither as part of its own territory nor as an independent state," she said.

Zakharova added that under such circumstances, it was impossible to invoke the CSTO's collective security mechanism.