Russian lawmaker: Armenia’s refusal to fund the CSTO does not contribute to strengthening security in the region

Armenia must understand the consequences of refusing to sign the document for funding the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russia’s State Duma member Mikhail Sheremet told NEWS.ru.

According to him, it is easier to break a collective security system than to build one.

“In our unstable times, creating a collective security system is quite difficult. But official Yerevan must understand that we respect their decision. I hope it was made with an awareness of the risks for the country and all its consequences to avoid ending up with nothing,” Sheremet noted.

First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma’s International Affairs Committee Alexey Chepa believes that Armenia’s refusal to fund the CSTO does not contribute to strengthening security in the region. According to the lawmaker, such a decision by Armenia’s leadership distances the country from Russia and weakens bilateral relations.

It was previously reported that the Armenian government abstained from signing the document regarding CSTO funding. According to the press service of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, Yerevan has already notified the organization’s secretariat about its decision.