Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has said that he does not see any tension in relations with Russia and described such claims as artificial.

“I do not see any tension; it is artificial tension. Our relations with Russia are institutional and based on mutual respect,” the prime minister said when asked by a Russian reporter outside a polling station on Sunday after casting his ballot in the parliamentary elections.

Pashinyan accused “some political forces” in Armenia of attempting to create tensions in Armenia–Russia relations, but said these attempts are not producing results because he maintains good ties with President Vladimir Putin.

“Certain forces operating in Armenia are trying to create tensions in Armenia–Russia relations. These tensions are not created for the simple reason that I have very close relations with the President of the Russian Federation,” Pashinyan said.

Armenia, a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), was earlier notified by its union partners—Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan—that they would like to see a referendum in Armenia choosing between staying in the EAEU or withdrawing and moving toward the European Union. The developments come amid growing ties between Armenia and the EU, which Armenia says do not contradict its EAEU membership for now.

In response to that statement, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on June 1 that Armenia will continue to work within the Eurasian Economic Union framework until the point when choosing between the European Union and the EAEU becomes unavoidable. The prime minister noted that there are currently no grounds for holding such a referendum, as Armenia’s European integration process is not yet at a stage where citizens can be presented with a clear choice. “Until the point when Armenia has either officially applied for EU membership or is very close to obtaining candidate status, holding any referendum would be unreasonable,” Pashinyan said.

In light of these developments, Russia has been imposing growing import restrictions on a wide range of Armenian goods, alleging that they violate phytosanitary standards. This has prompted Armenian exporters to look for new markets, particularly in the EU.

Pashinyan is leading the Civil Contract party’s re-election bid.