YEREVAN, August 24. /Dunyo IA/. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia does not intend to return to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the next five years and would welcome a decision by the organization to expel the country, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing Armenpress news agency.

“I would be very pleased if the organization decided to expel Armenia from the Collective Security Treaty Organization. In any case, it would free us from the dilemma of whether to leave or not,” PM said during a parliamentary session.

It is worth recalling that Armenia froze its participation in the CSTO in February 2024. Nikol Pashinyan said the decision was linked to what he described as allies’ failure to fulfill their obligations under the Collective Security Treaty in 2021–2022.

In June, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov said Armenia had not paid its contributions to the CSTO budget for two years. According to him, the organization was considering applying a relevant provision of its charter.

Under Article 20 of the CSTO Charter, a member state that has failed to pay its contributions for two years may face restrictions on its rights, including the suspension of its voting rights until the debt is fully repaid.

The CSTO comprises Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan suspended its membership in the organization in 2012 and is not currently a member.

During the parliamentary session, prime minister also said the Armenian government may soon begin the process of submitting an official application to join the European Union. In March 2025, Armenia’s National Assembly adopted a law launching the process of EU accession.

Photo credit: Armenpress