Armenia okays referendum initiative on constitutional amendment

YEREVAN, Armenia (MNTV) — Armenia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has registered a citizen-initiated referendum seeking amendments to the country’s Constitution, approving a civic initiative that now moves to the signature collection stage, Iravunk reported.

The initiative was submitted in early July by the ‘Eurasian Alliance’ civic group, a 53-member organization formed by representatives of the Alliance Party of former lawmaker Tigran Urikhanyan. The group’s proposed legislation was notarized before being filed with the CEC for registration.

According to the proposal, the constitutional amendment is intended to “neutralize and prevent the economic and social risks and crisis” that organizers say could arise from the March 26, 2025, law launching Armenia’s European Union accession process. The initiative argues that the customs regimes of the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are incompatible.

The draft amendment proposes enshrining in the Constitution a prohibition on Armenia signing interstate treaties that directly contradict international agreements already in force and previously concluded by the country.

The report said lengthy discussions took place between the CEC and the initiative’s organizers before the commission approved the application at an extraordinary session on July 16, the final day permitted under the legal deadline.

Under CEC regulations, organizers must collect 200,000 signatures within 60 days for the referendum to proceed. If the threshold is met, a nationwide vote will be scheduled. According to the commission’s decision, the official signature collection campaign will begin on Aug. 3.

The report said the referendum, if held, would effectively ask Armenian voters to determine whether the country should continue its European Union accession process or retain its orientation toward the Eurasian Economic Union.

The report also referred to remarks that it said were made by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in April, in which he urged Armenia to hold a referendum on its strategic direction. It added that leaders of EAEU member states had also called for the issue to be resolved through a nationwide vote.

Commenting on the initiative, Armenian journalist and blogger Roman Baghdasaryan said he did not believe it would gain sufficient public support.

“He will not collect 200,000 signatures,” Baghdasaryan said, referring to Urikhanyan. “And even if he does, it still won’t make any difference.”

Baghdasaryan said Armenia’s Constitution would ultimately be amended through the broader constitutional reform process. He noted that the justice minister has said a draft of the new Constitution, including its principal amendments, is expected to be published by the end of the year.

Analyst and publicist Ishkhan Verdyan said a referendum on Armenia’s geopolitical orientation could produce an outcome different from what its organizers expect.

He argued that if Armenian citizens were asked to choose between closer integration with the European Union and continued alignment with the EAEU, a majority would likely favor the European path.

Verdyan also said such a referendum could overlap with the government’s broader constitutional reform agenda, including possible amendments to provisions that neighboring countries have interpreted as containing territorial claims, and could serve as a model for future constitutional referendums.

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