Pashinyan Unfazed by Possible CSTO Expulsion: ‘I Am Not Concerned’

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Wednesday that Yerevan would have no option but to accept a decision by the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to expel Armenia if member states choose to pursue such a move.

Speaking to reporters in Yerevan, Pashinyan dismissed concerns over the possibility of Armenia being removed from the bloc, which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

“I know that there is a mechanism for expulsion from the CSTO, it exists and functions, and if the member states decide to expel Armenia, we will have to take note of that decision. There is nothing else we can do,” Pashinyan said.

Asked whether Armenia would continue withholding its membership contributions or reconsider its position toward the alliance, the prime minister was unequivocal.

“We are not planning to change anything,” he said.

When pressed on whether the situation troubled him, Pashinyan replied: “Yes, that is what it means. I am not concerned.”

His remarks came one day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that CSTO member states had agreed to examine measures concerning Armenia under the organization’s charter after Yerevan failed to pay membership dues for more than two years.

“Today we discussed what needs to be done in this situation,” Lavrov said following a meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers, referring to Armenia’s continued non-participation in the alliance’s activities.

Under the CSTO Charter, member states that fail to meet their financial obligations can face a range of penalties, including suspension of voting rights and exclusion from quota-based positions within the organization. Continued non-compliance could ultimately lead to the suspension of participation or even expulsion from the alliance.

The dispute reflects the steady deterioration of relations between Armenia and the CSTO since Yerevan accused the bloc of failing to fulfill its security commitments during periods of heightened tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan. Armenia has frozen its participation in CSTO activities and repeatedly questioned the organization’s effectiveness as a security guarantor.

The issue has also extended beyond the military alliance. Lavrov said the situation surrounding Armenia’s future within the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) requires an “urgent” resolution, though he did not specify what measures Moscow expects.

Pashinyan declined to elaborate on the matter, noting that he had already addressed Armenia’s position on the EAEU on multiple occasions.

The comments come during growing speculation about Armenia’s long-term geopolitical orientation as the country deepens cooperation with the European Union while seeking to maintain pragmatic ties with Russia.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Armenia could hold a referendum on expanding cooperation with the European Union, adding that Moscow would then be able to draw conclusions and proceed with what he described as a “civilized divorce.”

Despite increasing tensions with Moscow, Armenian officials insist they are not seeking a confrontation with Russia and have repeatedly stated that Yerevan has no immediate plans to withdraw from the EAEU. However, Pashinyan’s latest comments indicate that Armenia is prepared to accept the consequences if CSTO members decide to formalize the country’s departure from the bloc.

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