Armenia’s current leadership is playing with fire: Russian lawmakers on Armenia’s loss of voting rights in the CSTO
Armenia has placed its bets on those who have no interest in its well-being and are seeking to turn the country into yet another anti-Russian stronghold. Against this backdrop, the decision to strip Armenia of its voting rights within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a logical consequence of its actions, according to Andrey Klimov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, RIA Novosti reports.
“This decision, which has now been announced, is unfortunately a natural and inevitable consequence of the policies pursued by Armenia’s current government. Nothing else could have been expected. They have increasingly placed their bets on those who have absolutely no need for Armenia, but rather see it as an opportunity to turn the country into yet another anti-Russian stronghold,” Klimov said.
According to Klimov, the decision to strip Armenia of its voting rights in the CSTO had been a long time coming. The lawmaker added that he could see not a single reason to believe that Yerevan, under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, had any intention of making a constructive contribution to the CSTO’s joint efforts.
Klimov believes that depriving Armenia of its voting rights in the CSTO could deal a blow to the country’s future.
Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov, meanwhile, believes that Armenia’s attitude toward the CSTO puts it at risk of losing Russia and the other member states of the organization as its most steadfast and reliable allies.
“Armenia is dragging its feet, unsure of what course to take, because it must make a decision by the end of the year on whether to hold a referendum on joining the European Union or remain in the Eurasian Economic Union. I believe Armenia’s current leaders are playing with fire in this regard, as their actions could cost them their most steadfast, reliable and natural allies: Russia and the other CSTO member states,” Dzhabarov said.
Konstantin Zatulin, a member of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Abroad, noted that the decision to strip Armenia of its voting rights in the CSTO had been all but inevitable.
