The lack of contributions has been cited as the reason for depriving Armenia of its voting rights in the CSTO.
The Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization may decide to deprive Armenia of its voting rights in the organization, as the country has not paid its contributions for more than two years.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) should consider the prospects of Armenia's participation in a reasonable time frame. In particular, the issue of depriving Armenia of its voting rights may be considered on November 11, representatives of the member states said.
The CSTO Collective Security Council may decide next week to deprive Armenia of its voting rights in the organization, said Alexander Pankin, Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"Armenia has not paid contributions for more than two years, so the issue of temporarily suspending its membership - more precisely, depriving it of voting rights until the contributions are paid - may well be considered. This is an absolutely technical matter, provided for by the charter, a specific article of it. So, there may be such an outcome, but it depends on the president's decision," TASS quotes him as saying.
Pankin reminded that Russia holds the presidency in the CSTO and is responsible for the entire agenda.
"There will be a CSTO summit, preceded by a tripartite meeting of the foreign ministers, defense ministers, and security council secretaries. The issue of Armenia may not be the most important, but it could be the most interesting for the public, because the CSTO is about cooperation, joint tasks, and goals," he pointed out.
In response to the question of whether this issue will be discussed at next week's events, Pankin noted: "Probably, yes, it may be discussed, but it all depends on whether all the others agree to consider it or not. I think it will be considered."
The next session of the CSTO Collective Security Council will take place on November 11 in Moscow, according to the announcement.
Recall that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called the exit from the EAEU inevitable for joining the European Union. Armenia plans to submit its application for EU membership in 2027-2028.
Putin has repeatedly demanded that Armenia decide on its participation in the EU or the EAEU, as well as hold a referendum on this issue. A referendum on Armenia's accession to the EU will take place after the corresponding application is submitted and a roadmap is formed, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reported at the end of August. In early September, when Putin again urged the Armenian Prime Minister to decide as soon as possible on Armenia's accession to the EU, Pashinyan stated that the appropriate moment for this has not yet arrived.