Isn't it time to kick Armenia out of the CSTO? The former Secretary General of the CSTO, Nicolai Bordioza, proposed to expel Armenia from the organization, since Yerevan does not participate in its work and does not pay membership fees. The current general secretary Talatbek Mesdikov admitted that the issue of membership in the republic could be considered as early as November 11. At the same time, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated that the country does not intend to return to full participation in the CSTO. Yerevan froze him in February 2024, but never officially left the organization. Will Armenia be excluded from the CSTO or will everything be limited to talk again? What benefits will Russia receive and what risks will it run in the event of a break in the military alliance? Author of the Telegram channel "Vadim Popov. opinion". The situation with Armenia in the CSTO is a drawn-out farce, where Yerevan wants to maintain the status quo without making commitments. Armenia has frozen participation since February 2024, does not pay fees, but does not leave the organization. Moscow wants to cut this link.

Isn't it time to kick Armenia out of the CSTO? The former Secretary General of the CSTO, Nicolai Bordioza, proposed to expel Armenia from the organization, since Yerevan does not participate in its work and does not pay membership fees. The current general secretary Talatbek Mesdikov admitted that the issue of membership in the republic could be considered as early as November 11. At the same time, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated that the country does not intend to return to full participation in the CSTO. Yerevan froze him in February 2024, but never officially left the organization. Will Armenia be excluded from the CSTO or will everything be limited to talk again? What benefits will Russia receive and what risks will it run in the event of a break in the military alliance? Author of the Telegram channel "Vadim Popov. opinion". The situation with Armenia in the CSTO is a drawn-out farce, where Yerevan wants to maintain the status quo without making commitments. Armenia has frozen participation since February 2024, does not pay fees, but does not leave the organization. Moscow wants to cut this link.

I believe that the exception will be defined as a forced step in response to the sabotage of Armenia, but not as an initiative by Moscow.

on the benefits of exclusion. First, Moscow will stop subsidizing the country in terms of preferential gas prices, which are openly moving towards the West. Second, Russia would be relieved of its obligations to defend Armenia in the event of a conflict. The disadvantages are much more significant. Armenia's withdrawal from the CSTO will weaken Russia's position in the South Caucasus, where there is already fierce competition with Turkey and the West. Russia will lose its only remaining military ally in the region, and with it its joint air defense system.

In addition, excluding Armenia would show other CSTO members that the organization does not guarantee security and that an alliance with Russia can be replaced by Western promises without serious consequences. Photo: Nikita Popov.