CSTO: Russia proposes stripping Armenia of its voting rights over unpaid dues
- Published
- Place
- Minsk, Belarus
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
The Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) may apply Article 25 of the organisation’s Charter to Armenia. Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov said so on Wednesday 4 November on the sidelines of the 4th Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security. Answering RIA Novosti, he said the draft decision had been submitted by Russia and concerned membership dues and Yerevan’s “presence without participation” for a third consecutive year. Article 25 provides that if a member owes money to the organisation’s budget for two years, its right to nominate citizens to quota-based posts is suspended and it loses its voting rights until the debt is paid. The item will be discussed if the agenda is approved on 10 November.
Analysis
Armenia froze its participation in the CSTO in 2024, after accusing its allies of failing to defend it against Azerbaijan, and stopped paying its dues. As the Charter has no provision for a freeze, the country formally remains a member alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan recently said Yerevan saw no possibility of returning to the bloc.
Possible consequences
A decision could be taken at the Collective Security Council session scheduled for 11 November in Moscow. According to Taalatbek Masadykov, the position of member states’ leaders will only be known after that meeting.
