Armenia Withdraws Funding from CSTO Amid Tensions with Russia and Azerbaijan”.

Armenia has announced that it will not contribute to the funding of the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) in 2023, as decided on November 23. This decision reflects the strained relations between Armenia and the organization, particularly with Russia. Despite Armenia’s calls for condemnation of Azerbaijan’s attack in September 2022, the CSTO has not taken action. As a response, Yerevan rejected the proposal to deploy CSTO observers on the border. Prime Minister Pashinyan announced in 2024 that Armenia’s membership in the bloc was de facto frozen, and there is a possibility that Armenia may leave the bloc.

The CSTO consists of six member countries: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Belarus. The tensions between Armenia and the organization have been growing due to recent events such as Azerbaijan’s attack in September 2022. Yerevan believes that the CSTO should take action against Azerbaijan for its aggression towards Nagorno-Karabakh and support its right to self-determination. However, Russia has been hesitant to take strong action against its ally Azerbaijan and has instead maintained a neutral stance on the conflict.

Armenia’s decision to stop funding CSTO activities reflects its frustration with the organization’s failure to take action against Azerbaijan and its perceived lack of commitment to its mission of ensuring security in the region. The foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan stated that “Armenia will not contribute to the funding of CSTO activities as outlined in this budget.” However, she also added that “Armenia does not object to the approval of the organization’s 2024 budget in a limited format.” This suggests that while Armenia is taking a tough stance on funding activities related to its conflict with Azerbaijan, it is still willing to engage with the organization on a more limited basis if necessary.

Overall, relations between Armenia and Russia have become increasingly tense due to recent events related to Nagorno-Karabakh. As a result, it is likely that we will continue to see tensions escalate between these two countries and their respective allies in coming years.

In conclusion, Armenia has announced that it will stop funding activities related