If Armenia does not need CSTO membership, it can leave organization — Kremlin

MOSCOW, August 24. /TASS/. Armenia may withdraw from the Collective Security Treaty Organization if it no longer requires its membership, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"If Yerevan no longer needs to be a member of such an important organization for ensuring regional security to serve its national interests, then it is free to take the appropriate decision and leave this organization," Peskov said, commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Yerevan would be pleased if it were expelled from the CSTO.

"So far, we have heard statements at various levels from representatives of the Armenian side, who have said that yes, the membership has been frozen, but Armenia does not plan to withdraw at present. At least, these are the statements we have heard so far."

Earlier, Pashinyan said he supported the exclusion of the republic from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and would be pleased if it happened. According to him, this would relieve Yerevan of the dilemma of whether to leave or not to leave the organization.