Pashinyan Wants Out, Moscow Says 'Leave': Drama Behind Armenia–Russia Standoff

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he would be pleased if the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) expelled Armenia from the alliance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that if Armenia wants to leave, it should do so itself. What is behind this political "passing of the buck”? Pashinyan Fears Responsibility for Leaving Armenia in the Lurch On August 24, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament that he would welcome Armenia's expulsion from the CSTO because it would spare the country the dilemma of whether to leave. He confirmed that Yerevan does not plan to return to active participation in the bloc over the next five years and is now preparing to submit an official application for membership in the European Union. A unilateral withdrawal from the CSTO would place full political responsibility on the Armenian authorities for breaking their alliance commitments with Russia. This would leave Armenia exposed amid the unfinished peace process with Azerbaijan.