The Russian Federation Council said the Armenian authorities were "playing with fire" by walking away from the CSTO.
Armenia risks losing Russia and other countries participating in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which can be considered its most reliable allies, said Russian Senator Vladimir Dzhavarov in a conversation with journalists.
On Wednesday, the CSTO countries decided to apply Article 25 of the organization's charter, which stipulates the denial of voting rights, to Armenia. CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Mesdikov said that Armenia can resume its participation in the work of the organization after it resolves the issue of payment for arrears of contributions. In this case, the final decision rests with the leadership of the republic.
According to Dzhbarov, the Armenian authorities are delaying determining the future course of foreign policy, since by the end of the year they must decide on the issue of a referendum on joining the European Union or maintaining membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.
"I think the current leaders of Armenia are playing with fire in the sense that they may lose their most loyal and trustworthy allies in the form of Russia and other CSTO countries," the senator said.
Referring to the organization's decision regarding Yerevan, Dzhbarov noted that the CSTO member states acted in accordance with the treaty.
"Armenia demonstratively does not participate in any event and does not pay fees. They keep saying they believe they have already left the CSTO, although no one has made an official request," the Russian parliament concluded.
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