Putin: Armenia refrains from CSTO meetings “Well, that is their choice”

Armenia’s position regarding the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is that it supports all decisions of the alliance and remains a member, but refrains from directly participating in CSTO meetings.

Russian President Vladimir Putin explained this position of the Armenian side while answering journalists’ questions, Caliber.Az reports, citing TASS.

“As for Armenia’s stance, it is well known. As our Armenian colleagues tell us, they support all decisions made by the CSTO, consider themselves members, but at this stage refrain from participating in the organiыation’s meetings,” the Russian leader said.

“Well, that is their choice,” Putin added.

Armenia’s rejection of active participation in the CSTO stems from deep frustration over what Yerevan sees as the bloc’s failure to assist during periods of heightened tension and conflict with Azerbaijan. The turning point came after the 2020 war and especially the border clashes of 2022, when Armenia formally requested CSTO support under the collective defence clause but received only fact-finding missions and statements instead of military or political backing.

Yerevan argues that the CSTO has not fulfilled its treaty obligations and accuses the organisation of ignoring Armenian security concerns due to the dominant influence of Russia and the bloc’s desire to maintain balanced relations with Azerbaijan. As a result, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government gradually froze engagement, skipped CSTO summits, suspended participation in military exercises, and began openly questioning the alliance’s relevance for Armenia’s security.

By Khagan Isayev