Armenia signals shift from Russia-led alliance, top lawmaker confirms

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan stated that Armenia has “effectively exited” the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), addressing growing speculation about the country’s position within the regional security bloc.

As Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media, Simonyan responded to journalists’ accusations of “anti-Russian sentiment” with clear surprise:

“Does leaving the CSTO indicate anti-Russian sentiment? If you join an organization, for example, a journalists’ union, and that organization fails to fulfill its obligations, and you want to leave, are you then acting against journalism?” he said.

Simonyan further explained why Armenia has not formally withdrawn from the organization:

“We have effectively exited. The rest should be left to our political discretion and ongoing negotiations,” he added, underscoring that the matter remains a subject of careful diplomatic consideration.

Earlier, on November 26, Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan told reporters that, at the current stage, Armenia is not considering an official exit from the CSTO, signaling a cautious approach to the issue while maintaining dialogue with member states.

By Vafa Guliyeva