CSTO Strips Armenia of Voting Rights

Nov. 11, 2026 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. primeminister.am The Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on Wednesday stripped Armenia of its voting rights for failing to pay membership dues. The move comes three years after Armenia accused the military alliance of failing to intervene when Azerbaijan launched a surprise offensive to seize control of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has since effectively frozen his country’s involvement in the CSTO. He told journalists last week that Armenia no longer has “any interests related” to the organization, whose five member states are all former Soviet republics. Kremlin spokesman told a state media reporter that the decision to strip Armenia of its voting rights was made based on the fact that the South Caucasus country “has not fulfilled its obligations for several years, as outlined in the [CSTO] charter.” Secretary-general of the military alliance, Taalatbek Masadykov, stressed that the move does not mean Armenia’s membership has been nullified. “As soon as it decides to settle its dues, Armenia can be reinstated in terms of sending its employees and participating in the CSTO’s work,” Masadykov said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier this week that Armenia was expected to maintain its baseline security guarantees under the collective defensive treaty despite the anticipated decision to take away its voting rights. Armenia, once a close ally of Russia, has slowly fallen out with Moscow since Azerbaijan’s military offensive in September 2023. The country has sought to build stronger relations with the EU, including a membership bid by 2028. Meanwhile, Russia has issued sweeping bans on a range of Armenian products this year, widely viewed as retaliation for its pivot toward Europe. Read more about: CSTO , Armenia Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Feature In Armenia's Second City, Russian Military Outpost With a Dark Past Faces a Precarious Future Russia’s base in Gyumri is its last major outpost of military influence in Armenia. But amid changing geopolitical tides, are its days numbered? 8 Min read Russia Reckons With Loss of Regional Influence as Armenia Eyes Exit from Moscow-Led Military Bloc Officials privately admit that Russia's chances of preventing an Armenian exit from the CSTO alliance are slim, sources told MT. 4 Min read Armenian PM Calls on Citizens To Discuss EU Membership Russia's longtime ally Armenia has grown angry with Moscow over what it considered inaction during Azerbaijan's offensive to retake Nagorno-Karabakh. 2 Min read Frustration With Russia Grows in Armenia Many Armenians say they cannot forgive Russia for shirking its duty to protect their country from Azerbaijan. 2 Min read