ALBAWABA - Armenia, currently in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is considering leaving the Russian-led union to join the EU instead.
On his birthday, the Armenian PM received a birthday wish from Vladimir Putin along with an “unreasonable” demand to hold a referendum on leaving the EAEU and joining the EU.
The demand was met with an absolute refusal by Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian PM, as Putin is quickly turning up the pressure on his traditional ally in the Caucasus; demanding in the EAEU summit in Kazakhstan on May 29 along with fellow bloc members Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan that Armenia hold a referendum on joining the EU “as soon as possible.” Insisting that membership in both the EAEU and the EU is impossible.
In addition to the demand, Putin made a veiled-threat saying that the “Ukranian Scenario” started with them wanting to join the EU. Pashinyan however was undeterred, saying in a statement that the government would continue working within the EAEU until a choice between the two blocs “becomes unavoidable” adding that: “Putting a theoretical choice to a referendum is, of course, neither very sensible nor justified,” while describing ties with Russia as being in a “transformation phase”.
Russia on the other hand has recalled its ambassador from Armenia for ‘consultations’ which might have something to do with the recent Russian embargo on fish and seafood imports from Armenia, a vital sector for Armenia that exports 30% of its production to Russia that was quickly followed by trade bans on Armenian produce, flowers, mineral water and alcohol in a live example of Russian realpolitik.
The EU accused Putin of trying to cripple Armenia’s economy to force them to toe the line, Armenia however has continued to diversify its foreign affairs ever since Russia failed to show up for them in the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh offensive against Azerbaijan, with the war in Ukraine speeding the process along.
Armenia is steadily developing significant ties to Europe by hosting its first official EU Summit last month, alongside a wider European gathering that featured Ukraine’s Zelenskyy - also hosting the French President Emmanuel Macron for a high-profile state visit, provoking sharp criticism from the Kremlin.
