Armenia is not participating in a joint meeting of foreign ministers, defense ministers and security council secretaries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states in Moscow, TASS reported.
No Armenian representatives appeared in the group photograph taken before the meeting, although Armenia’s national flag remained displayed alongside those of the other member states.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin earlier said Armenia could lose its voting rights in the CSTO over unpaid membership contributions. According to Pankin, the issue is scheduled for discussion on November 11.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously said he would welcome Armenia’s expulsion from the organization.
Pashinyan also stated that Armenia does not intend to resume active participation in CSTO activities over the next five years, arguing that Yerevan’s interest in the organization has been exhausted.
