Russia raises prospect of Armenia losing CSTO powers at Moscow summit

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said that the issue of potentially restricting Armenia’s powers within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) could be discussed at the organization’s summit in Moscow on November 11, AzerNEWS reports, citing TASS.

According to Galuzin, any decision on restrictive measures against CSTO member states is made by the organization’s Collective Security Council. He noted that the council’s authority to take such decisions is established in the CSTO’s charter.

Galuzin emphasized that the CSTO charter is an international treaty and therefore creates obligations for all participating states. Among other requirements, member countries are expected to provide timely financial contributions to support the organization’s activities.

Earlier, the permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the CSTO, Viktor Vasiliev, said that in order to deprive Armenia of the right to vote in the organization's bodies, it is necessary to reach a consensus among the organization's participants.

On June 10, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Armenia had accumulated debts to the organization for more than two years.

The remarks come amid continued tensions between Armenia and the CSTO, as Yerevan has significantly reduced its participation in the organization’s activities.