CSTO Council May Consider Suspending Armenia’s Voting Rights Over Unpaid Dues

The Collective Security Council of the CSTO may consider stripping Armenia of its voting rights over unpaid membership dues, the organization’s secretary-general, Taalatbek Masadykov, said, according to a November 4, 2026, report by Regnum.

Russia has already submitted a draft decision to apply Article 25 of the CSTO Charter to Armenia, Masadykov said, as quoted by Regnum. The article provides for restrictions on a country that has not paid its membership dues for 2 years. It loses the right to vote in the organization’s bodies and to nominate its citizens for positions allocated by quota until it has paid its debt in full. Those restrictions do not amount to expulsion from the CSTO.

Masadykov spoke to journalists on November 4 at the 4th Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security. According to Regnum, the secretary-general said the Collective Security Council could discuss Armenia if the agenda is approved on November 10. The agency reported that he added that the heads of state’s decision would be announced after the meeting.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan set out Yerevan’s position on October 28. According to Regnum, he said he saw no possibility of the country resuming its participation in the CSTO. The agency also cited an earlier statement by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ruling out a return to active participation in the organization.

Armenia’s expulsion has been raised before. RT in Russian reports that Masadykov had previously said such a step was possible over unpaid membership dues. According to Regnum, former CSTO secretary-general Nikolai Bordyuzha proposed expelling Armenia on October 28, citing its debts and lack of participation in the organization’s work. The same agency reported that Pashinyan had earlier said he would be pleased if Armenia were expelled, because Yerevan would then not have to decide for itself whether to leave.

Armenia remains formally a member of the CSTO. Yerevan has not participated in the organization’s work for three years, Masadykov said, as quoted by Regnum. The secretary-general stressed that Armenia itself had decided to suspend its participation.