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Armenia Says CSTO Exit Not Under Discussion as Parliamentary Speaker Claims De Facto Departure

Officials frame the stance as part of a diversification strategy after freezing participation.

Overview

  • Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan said the question of leaving the CSTO is not on the ministry's agenda at this stage.
  • Safaryan noted that Armenia is not taking part in the bloc's work but is not obstructing the adoption of its decisions or documents.
  • Armenia will not attend the CSTO summit in Bishkek, though Yerevan signaled no objection to bloc-wide documents being approved.
  • Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan said the country has effectively already left, adding that he does not view the stance as anti-Russian.
  • Earlier steps included freezing participation in 2024 and refusing to fund the organization in March 2025, with Russian officials warning a withdrawal would not enhance Armenia's security and media reporting a possible formal exit as early as February 2026.