It is time for Armenia to decide how it will participate in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), stated the organization's Secretary General, Taalatbek Masadykov. According to him, the issue needs to be resolved "within a reasonable timeframe."

"We proceed from the premise that a decision regarding the prospects of Armenia's participation in the CSTO must be made within a reasonable timeframe," Masadykov said.

Armenia announced the freezing of its participation in CSTO activities in February 2024. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan explained this move by stating that, in Yerevan's view, the organization had failed to fulfill its security obligations. In April 2026, he confirmed that Armenia did not intend to resume active participation in the CSTO, and in June, he acknowledged the possibility of a direct withdrawal from the organization. However, Yerevan formally remains a member for the time being.

Masadykov's statement followed remarks by Viktor Vasilyev, Russia's representative to the CSTO, regarding the potential restriction of Armenia's participation in the organization's work. Vasilyev noted that stripping Yerevan of its voting rights would require a consensus among all CSTO members. The next meeting of the Collective Security Council is scheduled for November 11 in Moscow, and Vasilyev suggested that the leaders of the member states might discuss Armenia's future in the CSTO at that time.