Pashinyan unveils when Armenia can quit the CSTO

According to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states didn’t do what they were supposed to do when Azerbaijan crossed the sovereign territory of Armenia. This is why Armenia can quit the organization if it fails to decide where its responsibility lies when it comes to Armenia, the Armen Press news agency reported, citing Pashinyan.

As the Armenian prime minister noted, the CSTO member states repeatedly assured Armenia that its sovereign territory is a «red line» for them. However, during crises of 2021 and 2022 when this red line was crossed (by Azerbaijan), nothing was done to cope with the situation.

Now, the CSTO says that it is ready to send its peacekeepers to the border with Azerbaijan, although it hasn’t «described its zone of responsibility in the country,» the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

«The peacekeepers are a neutral party, whereas the CSTO is our organization. I mean, we aren’t on the same page when we talk about these things. If the sovereign territory of Armenia is a red line for the CSTO, then tell me what you call the sovereign territory of Armenia. They haven’t done so. Therefore, this issue is still on the table.»

«Once the CSTO answers the question of where its responsibility lies in Armenia and this answer meets our expectations, we will consider this issue as solved. Otherwise, Armenia would quit the CSTO. When? I don’t know when it can happen,» Pashinyan said.

According to Secretary General of the CSTO Imangali Tasmagambetov, Yerevan hasn’t been participating in the work of the CSTO Secretariat for a while. Tasmagambetov also highlighted that as an international organization, the CSTO will respect any decision by Armenia as a sovereign nation. Pashinyan has confirmed these words.

«Yes. We have effectively frozen our activities within the CSTO,» the Armenian prime minister said.

The CSTO is a military alliance of six countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

According to some media reports, Armenia is weighing the idea of joining the EU.