Russia-Led CSTO Strips Armenia of Voting Rights Over Unpaid Dues After Yerevan Freezes Participation

The Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has stripped Armenia of its voting rights and its ability to appoint representatives to senior positions after Yerevan stopped paying membership fees, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced Wednesday. ⠀ Speaking after the November 11 summit in Moscow, Peskov said the decision was made under the organization’s charter because Armenia had failed to fulfill its obligations for several years. The restrictions also prevent Yerevan from nominating Armenian citizens for positions allocated to it within the alliance. ⠀ Armenia has not paid its membership contributions since 2024. Under Article 25 of the CSTO charter, the restrictions can remain in place until the outstanding dues are paid. ⠀ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that the alliance had no intention of expelling Armenia. He stressed that Yerevan would retain its fundamental membership rights, including collective security guarantees, despite losing its vote. ⠀ Armenia froze its participation in the six-member military alliance in February 2024, accusing the Russian-led bloc of failing to fulfill its security obligations during confrontations with Azerbaijan. Since then, Yerevan has boycotted CSTO meetings but has not formally withdrawn. ⠀ Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made his position clear on November 5, declaring that Armenia’s interest in the alliance had “run its course.” The decision in Moscow further deepens a dispute between Armenia and the security organization it once relied upon for protection.