EAEU leaders call for Armenia referendum on EU or bloc membership

The presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan haveadopted a joint statement proposing that Armenia hold a nationwidereferendum “as soon as possible” on whether to join the European Unionor remain a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The jointstatement was published on the Kremlin’s official website.

The statement, adopted in Astana on May 29, says the position wasformed in light of Armenia’s recent steps towards European Unionmembership. Those steps include the adoption in 2025 by Armenia’sNational Assembly, and the subsequent signing by the President of theRepublic, of the law “On the launch of the process of the Republic ofArmenia’s accession to the European Union”, as well as the EuropeanUnion’s reaffirmation of Armenia’s European aspirations in the jointdeclaration adopted following the first Armenia-European Union summitheld on May 5, 2026.

“We share the position that it is necessary to hold a nationwidereferendum in the Republic of Armenia within the shortest possibletimeframe on the issue of accession to the European Union or continuedmembership in the Eurasian Economic Union,” the statement said.

The document also states that “the leaders of the EAEU member statessee significant economic security risks for the Union’s membercountries linked to Armenia’s preparations for accession to theEuropean Union.”

In this regard, it was decided that representatives of the Republic ofBelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and theRussian Federation in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council willpresent a report at the next meeting of the Supreme Eurasian EconomicCouncil, scheduled for December 2026, on the possible consequences ofsuspending the application of the Treaty on the Eurasian EconomicUnion with respect to the Republic of Armenia.