Pashinyan says Armenia has exhausted its interest in CSTO membership

Pashinyan's statement

Armenia is no longer interested in cooperation with the CSTO. This was stated by the country's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, commenting on the possible restriction of Yerevan's rights within the organization. “Armenia no longer has any interests related to the CSTO,” he told journalists, as reported by Life.ru.

What Article 25 of the Charter provides for

The statement came amid discussions on the possible application to Armenia of Article 25 of the CSTO Charter. It provides for the restriction of certain rights of a member state due to arrears in membership fees: the country may lose its right to vote and the ability to nominate candidates for positions under established quotas.

European integration context

Earlier, Pashinyan suggested that an official application for Armenia's accession to the European Union could be submitted in 2027–2028, noting that the exact timing of the appeal to the EU has not yet been determined. In March 2025, the Armenian authorities adopted a law on launching the European integration process, but a membership application has not yet been submitted. At the same time, the republic remains a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, although the prime minister himself previously acknowledged the impossibility of simultaneous membership in the EAEU and the EU — this contradiction in Yerevan's position persists even after the new statement about the CSTO.