CSTO Secretary General: Armenia has effectively left the organisation

Taalatbek Masadykov, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), has said that Armenia has effectively left the organisation. APA reports that Masadykov made the remarks in a comment to TASS.

According to Masadykov, the CSTO sends member states documents on its activities, but the Armenian side does not take part in discussions or decision-making. Yerevan, however, does not object to decisions taken in a limited format and does not obstruct the organisation's work. Masadykov also noted that Armenia does not join the organisation's main events or its military exercises, and only listens to weekly reports.

The Secretary General believes the situation is linked to Article 25 of the CSTO Charter and that Armenia has effectively left the organisation of its own accord. The report also recalls that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier said in parliament that he supports his country's withdrawal from the CSTO and would be pleased if such a decision were adopted.