Moscow / Tbilisi.- Russian President Vladimir Putin reminded Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan by phone today of the need to call a referendum on joining the European Union (EU), a demand from the Kremlin and the rest of the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
As reported by the Kremlin, during the conversation Putin alluded to the statement published at the end of May by the EAEU, to which Armenia also belongs.
In this regard, as reported by the Armenian government, Pashinyan replied to Putin that the popular consultation will only be possible “after Armenia officially applies for EU membership.”
He also asserted that the current Russian sanctions against Armenian exports contradict bilateral agreements and the statutes of the EAEU, and “called for measures to be taken to resolve these issues” through “an open, friendly, and partner-based dialogue.”
Recently, the Russian phytosanitary authority, Rosselkhoznadzor, banned imports of dairy products from Armenia, allegedly because local producers were using milk from infected livestock.
In recent months, Russian authorities have banned, among other things, the purchase of flowers, vegetables, wine, cognac, strawberries, fish, and mineral water from the Caucasian country.
Tense relationships
Russia and Armenia have maintained tense relations for months due to the Caucasian country’s aspiration to join the EU, to which must be added Yerevan’s decision to freeze its participation in the post-Soviet military bloc due to Russian inaction in the face of military aggression by Azerbaijan, which ended up taking the Nagorno-Karabakh region militarily.
Despite pressure from Moscow, the Armenian leader maintains that, although he has enacted a law on future accession to the Twenty-Seven, he has no intention for the moment of leaving the EAEU.
Pashinyan was re-elected by an absolute majority in the elections held in June with the support of the European Union and U.S. President Donald Trump, while the Kremlin openly supported the opposition.
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