Armenia appears to be distancing itself from all forms of cooperation within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin told journalists on November 15.

Responding to a question about Armenia’s potential participation in upcoming CSTO events, including a late-November summit, Pankin stated that this inquiry should be directed to the Armenian authorities, according to TASS.

“But judging by the Armenian side’s statements, it is distancing itself from absolutely all formats of the CSTO activities at various levels,” Pankin said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently commented, "The CSTO poses threats to Armenia's security, its future, and sovereignty.” Meanwhile, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, speaking at an international security forum in Warsaw, noted that Yerevan is carefully assessing all risks associated with a potential withdrawal from the CSTO.