Moscow: Pashinyan should blame himself for Azerbijan's victory in Nagorno-Karabakh

As the number of Karabakh residents seeking refuge in Armenia after Azerbaijan's lightning offensive grows by the hour, Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had only himself to blame for Azerbaijan's victory over Nagorno-Karabakh because he had insisted on flirting with the West rather than working with Moscow and Baku for peace.

Pashinyan said in an address to the nation yesterday that Russia had failed Armenia by not providing more help to avert the crisis over the region, adding that he would have to transform Armenia's security alliances.

Russia's foreign ministry responded on Monday with a strongly worded attack on Pashinyan.

"We are convinced that the Yerevan leadership is making a massive mistake by deliberately trying to destroy Armenia's multi-faceted and centuries-old ties with Russia while making the country hostage to the geopolitical games of the West," it said.

The number of refugees arriving from Nagorno-Karabakh to cross into Armenia reached 4,850 as of mid Monday according to Public Radio of Armenia who cited official reports.

Reuters cited Sputnik Armenia putting the figure at over 6,650 only a couple of hours later.