Armenia faces loss of CSTO voting rights over outstanding dues

Unpaid dues could cost Armenia its voting rights in CSTO / Image generated by AI

Member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) are considering sanctions against Armenia over its long-term failure to pay dues to the organization’s budget. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the move following a meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers in Kazan, according to TASS.

Read also: Lavrov counters Kazakhstan’s stance on territorial integrity.

Lavrov said Yerevan has failed to make its mandatory contributions for more than two years. As a result, CSTO member states plan to examine the possibility of invoking Article 20 of the organization’s charter.

Переговоры США и России — Sergey Lavrov / Photo: Reuters, Evelyn Hockstein

Under the provision, a member state with outstanding dues may be temporarily stripped of its voting rights in CSTO bodies and lose the right to nominate representatives for quota-based positions until its arrears are fully repaid. In certain cases, the charter also allows for the suspension of a country’s participation in the organization’s activities or even its expulsion.

Lavrov noted that Armenia remains a full member of the CSTO but has not participated in the organization’s events for an extended period.

Armenia’s foreign policy under scrutiny

The Russian foreign minister also said Yerevan must determine its future foreign policy direction, including whether to deepen relations with the European Union while remaining a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

Read also: Why Kazakhstan stays in Eurasian Economic Union: Government highlights benefits.

Lavrov further accused Armenian authorities of expanding cooperation with NATO. According to him, Armenia conducts joint military exercises with alliance members, purchases weapons and maintains contacts with NATO and European Union military structures.

Armenia’s position on the CSTO

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan previously explained the country’s suspension of participation in the CSTO by arguing that the organization failed to fulfill its obligations during the events in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2022.

одкб — Armenian prime minister said that the country already considers itself a non-member of the CSTO / Photo: primeminister.am, photo editor: Arthur Aleskerov

Regional leaders call for a decision

In May, the presidents of Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan signed a joint statement regarding Armenia’s future geopolitical course. According to the statement, Armenia is being urged to choose between remaining in the EEU and pursuing closer integration with the EU.