Zaharova: Pashinyan diverts discussion on Armenia's EAEU membership into sphere of demagogy

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is steering the conversation on the country's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) into the sphere of demagogy, as he did in connection with the freeze on Yerevan's participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

This is stated in a comment by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zaharova.

"We have reviewed the statements made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Armenian government meeting on June 25, as well as during his interaction with journalists following the meeting. It is obvious that the Armenian prime minister is diverting the conversation, steering it into the sphere of demagogy, as he already did in connection with the so-called freeze on Yerevan's participation in the CSTO," the diplomat noted.

According to her, the behavior of Armenia's current authorities, in particular Pashinyan, cannot be called good-faith membership in the EAEU.

The diplomat noted that Pashinyan left the main question unanswered. "In particular, about how it is possible to adopt in 2025 the law 'On the start of the process of the Republic of Armenia's accession to the European Union,' repeatedly assert that Armenia's future lies in Europe, sign in May 2026 joint declarations with the EU listing specific steps aimed at bringing the republic closer to this union, and at the same time speak of the intention to remain a full member of the EAEU. In essence, it turns out that Yerevan's activity within the union is merely a temporary measure to prepare the ground for joining the European bloc, whose standards and rules differ radically from those of the EAEU and which, moreover, pursues a policy hostile to Russia. Such behavior cannot be called good-faith membership in the EAEU," Zaharova emphasized.

She stated that Armenia must answer the question of its strategic choice between the EAEU and the EU as soon as possible.

"The statement by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, adopted on May 29 in Astana, clearly indicates that Yerevan's course toward rapprochement with the EU poses significant risks to the economic security of EAEU member states. The document stresses the need to prevent damage to EAEU countries in this regard," the diplomat pointed out.

"Therefore, the question of a strategic choice must be answered by Yerevan, as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan himself calls for, and as soon as possible," she emphasized.

Source: TASS