The Russian Foreign Ministry has urged Armenia to choose between closer ties with the European Union and membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), a structure initiated by Moscow.
Mikhail Galuzin, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that Armenia must decide by December whether it will hold a referendum to choose between the two options. If the referendum does not take place, EAEU leaders will consider this aspect in future decision-making. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan mentioned that the referendum will only be organized after Armenia obtains candidate status for EU membership.
Relations between Armenia and Russia have soured, especially after Armenia’s withdrawal from the CSTO military bloc, after Russia did not intervene in the conflict with Azerbaijan. Russia has warned Armenia about the possible consequences of withdrawing from the EAEU and has demanded the resumption of financial obligations towards the CSTO.
In the context of these tensions, Putin invoked ‘the fate of Ukraine’ to emphasize the risks of a pro-European option.
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