Samvel Karapetyan pledges review of CSTO role ahead of elections

Businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, the leader of the Strong Armenia party, said his team would carefully examine the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s (CSTO) role in Armenia’s security before deciding whether to maintain or end its membership.

In an interview on Friday, Karapetyan stressed that Armenia must understand why the CSTO and Russia did not respond to Azerbaijan’s 2022 incursion into Armenian territory. He suggested that external pressures from Baku or Ankara may have influenced the lack of support, noting that such questions require thorough study.

He criticized the government’s decision to “freeze” CSTO membership, calling it an uncertain halfway measure. “Either you leave or you stay,” Karapetyan said, adding that if the bloc proves ineffective, Armenia should not hesitate to withdraw.

At the same time, he emphasized caution. “We will not make emotional moves that could be fatal for Armenia,” he stated, underscoring that Russia remains a “very important partner” and that any shift in alliances must be weighed against the risks of leaving Armenia without security guarantees.

Karapetyan also faulted Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for failing to consult experienced voices before signing agreements, pledging that under his leadership, every step would be studied responsibly.