Armenian MP warns against Yerevan's withdrawal from CSTO

Armenia's withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) may see additional measures taken by the country's leadership, as suggested by Tigran Abrahamyan, a member of the Armenian National Assembly and secretary of the "I Have Honor" faction.

Abrahamyan highlighted the need for caution in handling Armenia's relationship with the CSTO, emphasizing that while there have been misconceptions about the assistance expected from the organization, steps leading to Armenia's withdrawal should be avoided, Izvestia reports.

He expressed concern that such actions could not only formalize Armenia's exit from the CSTO but also significantly strain relations with Russia, a key member of the alliance.

"Wrong expectations have been formed from the CSTO and the assistance expected from it regarding mutual obligations. Even so, the parties should not take steps that could lead the situation to Armenia's withdrawal from the CSTO. I believe that the Armenian authorities in continuation of their steps can not only withdraw from the organization, which is openly stated, but also significantly worsen relations with Russia in general," the politician said.

At the same time, Abrahamyan emphasized that the possible deepening of Yerevan's relations with the EU or any European country in any case should not be to the detriment of relations with Moscow. According to him, the multilateral formats with the participation of Armenia and Russia, such as the CSTO, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), should not be frozen or suspended, but can be transformed to make the interaction within their framework more flexible and productive.

Abrahamyan's remarks come in the wake of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's announcement on February 23 regarding the freezing of Armenia's participation in the CSTO. This decision reflects a broader reassessment of Armenia's foreign policy priorities and its engagement with regional security frameworks.