CSTO to discuss stripping Armenia of its voting rights in the organization: Lavrov

If the CSTO summit adopts a decision on Yerevan’s failure to meet its obligations, Armenia will retain its right to collective security. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, said this at a press conference with Taalatbek Masadykov, Secretary General of the CSTO. The press conference followed a joint meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Defense Ministers and Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils.

According to Lavrov, the parties were forced to discuss Armenia’s failure to meet its obligations under the CSTO Charter regarding annual contributions to the organization’s budget.

“The draft decision [on applying Article 25 of the CSTO Charter to Armenia — ed.] provides for suspending Armenia’s right to nominate its citizens for quota positions in the organization’s bodies and depriving it of the right to vote until the debt is fully repaid. This draft decision will also be considered tomorrow at the session of the Collective Security Council,” Lavrov said.

According to the diplomat, if the CSTO summit adopts a decision on Yerevan’s failure to meet its obligations, Armenia will retain its right to collective security.