EU or EAEU: Moscow demands clarity from Yerevan
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin pointed to the confusing nature of the statements by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding a referendum on Armenia's accession to the European Union or its continued membership in the EAEU.
As the deputy minister noted, Article 205 of Armenia's Constitution stipulates that such a referendum on issues of membership in supranational international organizations must be initiated specifically by the government of Armenia. At the same time, he continued, during the 2025 discussion of the future law "On Launching the Process of Accession to the European Union," the Armenian side argued that, despite the provisions of the Constitution, its adoption did not require a referendum, since the document was merely a meaningless political declaration. "Now we hear that the results of the June elections in Armenia allegedly in themselves constitute evidence of nationwide support for the pro-European course and the further introduction of European norms and rules in the country, and therefore, once again, there is no need for a referendum," the deputy minister said in an interview with TASS.
"I would remind you that during the election campaign Pashinyan at times made diametrically opposed and confusing statements. Moreover, he sometimes quite frankly admitted that no one has yet invited Armenia into the EU and that it may never become a member at all," he added. "A great deal has indeed already been said, but this does not add any clarity whatsoever."
According to Galuzin, this is precisely why the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan stated the need to find out what the residents of Armenia actually think on this matter. "And not in an abstract, theoretical sense (do you want to join the EU?), but in a concrete, practical one: are you ready to give up membership in the EAEU for the sake of the prospect — not entirely obvious — of joining the EU in the future? Because it is precisely such a formulation of the question that would be the most honest toward the citizens of the Republic of Armenia themselves. And toward the other members of the EAEU as well," the agency's interlocutor concluded.
Yerevan has recently been declaring a course toward integration with the European Union. On March 26, 2025, Armenia's parliament passed a law on launching the process of the republic's accession to the EU. At the same time, Pashinyan claimed that Yerevan does not intend to withdraw from the EAEU and expects to combine membership in the organization with integration into the EU for as long as that is possible. As Russian President Vladimir Putin noted, integration into the EU automatically entails the termination of Armenia's cooperation with the EAEU and the loss of all the accompanying preferences from which Yerevan has benefited throughout its time in the Eurasian Economic Union.
At the EAEU summit held in Astana on May 29, the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan adopted a joint statement indicating that they share the position on the need to hold a nationwide referendum in Armenia on joining the EU or remaining in the EAEU.
Source: TASS
