CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov has declared that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.”

Tasmagambetov maintained that despite Armenia’s decision to suspend participation in CSTO events, the organization “fully retains its obligations to Yerevan”.

“Armenia has indeed limited its participation in the work of the CSTO, but the main mechanisms of interaction are functioning, and work on the organization’s agenda continues,” the CSTO Secretary General said, according to Izvestia.

“All CSTO obligations towards Armenia remain in full accordance with the statutory goals and principles of the organization.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in a recent interview with France 24 that Armenia has frozen its participation in the Russian-led bloc. Following the announcement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia hopes to receive a response from Armenia regarding the fulfillment of obligations and participation in joint integration structures, including the CSTO, warning of consequences.