Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan have demanded that Armenia hold a referendum on whether to remain in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or pursue membership in the European Union.
In a joint statement, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Sadyr Japarov said Armenia’s preparations for EU accession pose “significant risks to the economic security” of EAEU member states and that they must “prevent the associated damage”:
We share the position that Armenia must hold a nationwide referendum as soon as possible on joining the European Union or continuing its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said repeatedly that Yerevan will continue cooperating with both Western countries and EAEU member states for as long as that remains possible and that once it no longer is, the Armenian people will make their choice.
Parliamentary elections will be held in Armenia on June 7. Against this backdrop, relations between Moscow and Yerevan have deteriorated sharply. Russia has accused incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of pursuing a pro-Western course. Moscow is also demanding that Samvel Karapetyan — a businessman and head of the Russian industrial and construction group Tashir — be allowed to run in the elections. In response to Yerevan’s efforts to draw closer to the European Union, Russia has begun imposing restrictions on imports of Armenian goods.
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