Armenia to skip CSTO summit in Bishkek

Armenia will not take part in the upcoming Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit due to be held in Bishkek, a senior Kremlin official has said.

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, told reporters that the leaders of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Tajikistan are expected to attend Thursday’s meeting in the Kyrgyz capital, but Armenia will be absent, RIA Novosti reported.

Ushakov also confirmed that Taalatbek Masadykov, currently serving as the organization’s deputy head, is set to become the CSTO’s new secretary-general from 1 January 2026.