Armenia remains member of Collective Security Treaty Organisation Russian diplomat says

Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova has said that Armenia remains, de jure, a full-fledged member of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) with all the associated rights and obligations.

She noted that Armenia has been distancing itself from engagement with the organisation, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"In our view, this contradicts the interests of the Armenian people. We hope that, in the interest of Armenia's security and the security of the entire region, our full partnership will be restored," Zakharova added.

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) is a regional intergovernmental military alliance that was formed to ensure the collective defence and security of its member states. The CSTO was founded by six post-Soviet states: Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The treaty came into force in 1994. Uzbekistan withdrew from the CSTO in 1999 but rejoined in 2006 before suspending its membership again in 2012. The current members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The primary goal of the CSTO is to provide collective defence against external threats. The organisation aims to promote peace, stability, and security in the region through coordinated military and political actions. The CSTO also focuses on combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and organised crime.