Relations between Armenia and its ally Russia are believed to have chilled as the two countries are accusing each other over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Azerbaijan military launched what it called anti-terrorist operations in the breakaway ethnic Armenian region on September 19. The fighting ended after the ethnic Armenian forces agreed to a truce by accepting disarmament.

Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed his discontent with Russia, saying Russian peacekeeping troops did not play their role.

In response, the Russian foreign ministry harshly criticized the prime minister on Monday, calling his remarks "unacceptable insinuations against Russia."

The ministry said in a statement that Russia is witnessing "an attempt to shift responsibility for failures in domestic and foreign policies onto Moscow." The ministry accused the Armenian leader of trying to destroy its ties with Russia under Western influence.

Observers point out that Russia's influence on Armenia has weakened since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Armenia has shown willingness to forge ties with the West, as evidenced by acts like holding a joint military drill with the United States.

Many residents have been fleeing from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia after the conflict. The Armenian government says more than 13,000 people have arrived in the country. About 120,000 ethnic Armenians are said to live in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Meanwhile, Russian media say Armenia is seeking to hold a meeting between Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev next month mediated by the European Union.