Member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation are expected to discuss the possible suspension of Armenia’s voting rights at a summit in Moscow later this year, a senior Russian official said.
Viktor Vasilyev said any such decision would require unanimous approval from all member states, according to Russian media.
“The next session of the CSTO Collective Security Council will take place in Moscow on November 11, and the leaders of the member states will likely discuss this issue. A decision on it, if required, will be taken by consensus,” he said.
Vasilyev cited provisions in the CSTO charter that allow for the suspension of a member state’s rights — including voting and the ability to nominate candidates for quota-based positions — if it fails to meet its financial obligations to the organisation for more than two years.
He added that Armenia has effectively already been in such a position, noting that it has not nominated officials to posts within the CSTO Secretariat and has withdrawn its representatives from the alliance’s Joint Staff.
“De facto, this situation has been in place for more than two years, as Armenia has not nominated its citizens for quota-based positions in the Secretariat and has also withdrawn its representatives from the CSTO Joint Staff,” he said.
Armenia announced in February 2024 that it was freezing its participation in the alliance.
The CSTO, a Russia-led security bloc, also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
By Tamilla Hasanova
