The CSTO Continues to Consider Armenia as an Ally, Says Secretary General

The member states of the CSTO continue to regard Armenia as an ally of the organization. This was announced to RIA Novosti by the CSTO Secretary General, Taalatuvek Masadikov.

“Armenia has originally been an active and harmonious member state, deserving to contribute to the strengthening of collective capacity, and the CSTO member states continue to view this country as an ally of the organization,” said Masadikov.

According to him, representatives of the leadership of the CSTO member states have repeatedly confirmed their willingness to discuss all issues with Yerevan, including the restoration of the full participation of the Armenian side in the organization’s joint activities.

Armenia announced in 2024 that it would suspend its participation in the CSTO. In early August, Russia's permanent representative to the CSTO, Viktor Vasilev, stated that consensus among member states is necessary to deprive Armenia of voting rights in the organization's bodies.

He noted that the next session of the CSTO Collective Security Council is scheduled for November 11 in Moscow, and it is likely that member states' leaders will also discuss this issue.

According to Article 20 of the CSTO Charter, if a member state fails to fulfill its budget obligations for two years, the Collective Security Council may decide to suspend the rights of that country's citizens to hold quota positions in the organization, as well as to deprive it of voting rights until the debt is fully settled.

The charter also stipulates that if a member state does not comply with the requirements of the organization’s charter or accepted decisions, the Collective Security Council may suspend that country’s participation in the CSTO's activities or decide to expel it from the organization.