Russia awaits Armenia's CSTO decision

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia is awaiting Armenia's decision regarding its future participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), according to Viktor Vasilyev, Russia's Permanent Representative to the organization.

"Armenia must decide whether it remains a member of the organization or prefers another scenario," he said, according to RIA Novosti.

Vasilyev added that the republic should inform Russia of its decision.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also stated that Armenia's resumption of work within the CSTO would be in the country's own interests.

Yerevan previously suspended its participation in the organization. Last summer, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia was more likely to withdraw from the CSTO than to resume joint activities within the alliance.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin argued that Armenia's authorities had been encouraged by the West to make such a decision. In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Pashinyan's assertion that the CSTO had "abandoned Yerevan in its time of need" did not correspond to reality.