Russia Sets December Deadline for Yerevan to Call a Referendum on EU Membershi

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin

Russia stepped up its demands from Yerevan to call a referendum on Armenia’s ambitions to join the European Union, setting a deadline for December of this year, when the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union are set to meet.

“Armenia must decide on holding a nationwide referendum on whether to join the European Union or to remain in the Eurasian Economic Union by December 2026, when the meeting of the heads of the EEU member states will discuss possible further steps toward Yerevan,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with state-run Tass news agency on Tuesday.

“It is obvious that if a referendum is not called by that time, the [EEU] leaders will take this fact into consideration when deciding on further appropriate joint steps [regarding Armenia],” Galuzin added.

Pashinyan initiated a call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia late last month to discuss the increasing obstacles and sanctions being imposed by Moscow on goods imported to Russia from Armenia.

During that call, Putin urged Pashinyan to hold the referendum, the idea of which stems from a joint statement by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, adopted on May 29, regarding Armenia’s aspirations to join the EU. That announcement also called for a nationwide referendum to take place in Armenia “in the shortest possible time” to determine whether Armenian citizens want to Armenia to join the EU or remain part of the Russia-led EEU.

“At the same time, it has already been noted that this issue will be discussed again at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council to be held in December, when the heads of state will be presented with a report on the possible consequences of suspending the functioning of the EEU treaty of May 29, 2014 with respect to Armenia,” Galuzin added.

According to Pashinyan, he told Putin that the referendum would be practically possible only after Armenia officially submits an application for EU membership, making the issue a concrete matter for consideration.

Galuzin also told Tass that according to Armenia’s Constitution, membership in international organizations required a referendum, something that did not happen when Armenia joined the EEU.

The Russian official took note of Pashinyan’s recent statements that the result of the June 7 elections, in which his Civil Contract party received the most votes, signaled that the majority of the Armenian population is in agreement with the government’s policies, including seeking membership in the EU.

“And now we hear that the results of the June elections in Armenia supposedly already indicate nationwide support for the pro-European path, for the further introduction of European norms and rules in the country, therefore there is no need for a referendum again,” Galuzin said.

“Let me recall that during the election campaign, Pashinyan sometimes was making diametrically opposed and confusing statements. Moreover, sometimes he was also quite openly admitting that no one has invited Armenia to the EU yet, and that it may never become a member of it,” Galuzin added. “A lot has already been said, but it does not add clarity at all.”

According to the senior Russian diplomat, this is precisely why the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan have stated that it is necessary to know what the people of Armenia really think about this issue.

Galuzin also said that the matter of depriving Armenia of its voting rights in the Collective Security Treaty Organization may be discussed at the organization’s summit on November 11.

Yerevan froze its participation in the Russia-led security organization. Pashinyan claimed that the CSTO did not properly defend its member-state when Armenia appealed to the group after Azerbaijan invaded and seized territories in Armenia in 2021 and 2022.

“Any decision regarding the possible application of restrictive measures against one of the organization’s members fully falls within the purview of the [CSTO] Collective Security Council—which includes the heads of the CSTO member states—which is authorized to make such decisions on the basis of the provisions of the organization’s charter—the applicable norms in relation to your question are contained, in particular, in its Articles 20 and 25,” Galuzin noted, in response to a question about the application of the relevant article of the CSTO charter regarding non-fulfillment of obligations.

According to him, the CSTO charter is an international treaty and must be fulfilled in good faith by all its parties, including the obligation of each member state to fund the activities of the CSTO bodies.

“Yerevan’s refusal to participate in the organization’s work and failure to sign annual decisions on its budget only means non-use of its right, but does not suspend Armenia’s obligations to transfer its national contribution [to the CSTO] on time,” the high-ranking Russian diplomat noted.

“Based on the principle of maintaining institutional efficiency, in any international organization there are procedures for such cases provided for by fundamental documents. The CSTO is no exception,” Galuzin added.

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