CSTO May Address Armenia’s Membership Status at November Summit

The question of Armenia’s membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) may be considered at a summit in Moscow on November 11. CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov stated that if the issue is added to the agenda of the Collective Security Council, the heads of state could reach a decision on it.

Masadykov believes that, while Armenia remains a formal member, it has effectively ceased full participation in the organization’s activities.

"Armenia is not hindering the work of the CSTO. Therefore, I believe Article 25 [of the CSTO Charter] is relevant here. In principle, they have already effectively withdrawn on their own," the Secretary General said.

He explained that Yerevan continues to receive the organization’s documents, but for certain matters, it indicates that it is not participating in discussions or decision-making—while simultaneously raising no objections to these matters being approved in a limited format. An Armenian representative also regularly attends meetings of the CSTO Permanent Council.

Article 25 of the organization’s Charter outlines the consequences for states that fail to meet their financial obligations or fill the quota-based positions allocated to them. According to Masadykov, such a situation could result in the loss of voting rights.

Armenia froze its participation in the CSTO in 2024. In December of that year, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Yerevan’s relationship with the organization had passed the "point of no return," accusing the CSTO of inaction during border clashes with Azerbaijan in 2021–2022 and of failing to provide clear guarantees for the protection of Armenian territory.

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