Armenia could temporarily lose its voting rights in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) over unpaid membership fees, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said.
“Armenia has not paid its membership dues for more than two years, so it is entirely possible that the issue of temporarily suspending its membership, or more precisely, depriving it of voting rights until the dues are paid, will be discussed and a decision made,” Pankin said, according to TASS.
He described the measure as a technical procedure provided for under the organization’s charter, adding that any decision would depend on the chairmanship.
Pankin noted that Russia currently chairs the CSTO and is responsible for setting its agenda.
Asked whether Armenia’s voting rights would be discussed at next week’s meetings, he said the matter would depend on the agreement of other member states but was likely to be raised.
The CSTO Collective Security Council is scheduled to meet in Moscow on November 11, preceded by meetings involving foreign and defense ministers and national security officials.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan previously said he would welcome Armenia’s removal from the CSTO. He also stated that Yerevan had no intention of resuming active participation in the organization over the next five years, arguing that Armenia’s interest in the alliance had been exhausted.
In September 2024, Pashinyan announced that Armenia had frozen its participation in CSTO activities, accusing the organization of posing threats to the country’s sovereignty.
