Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin has accused Armenia’s leadership of pursuing a policy of double standards, arguing that Yerevan simultaneously declares its intention to remain in the Eurasian Economic Union while creating legal mechanisms for closer integration with the European Union.
According to Volodin, Armenia’s people should be distinguished from the country’s ruling elite. He claimed that the government led by Nikol Pashinyan is taking steps toward EU integration, citing Armenia’s recognition of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and the adoption of legislation expressing the country’s intention to join the European Union.
Volodin also stated that Russia considers it unacceptable to maintain what he described as a «consumer-style relationship» with Moscow, noting that Russia supplies Armenia with energy resources at prices below European market levels and remains one of Armenia’s key export markets.
Discussion at the EAEU Summit
The issue was also raised during the recent EAEU summit in Astana. According to reports, the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan expressed support for the idea of holding a nationwide referendum in Armenia on the country’s future integration path.
Under this proposal, Armenian citizens would decide whether the country should pursue membership in the European Union or remain within the Eurasian Economic Union framework.
Previous Statements
Earlier, Vladimir Putin also stated that Armenia would eventually need to determine its preferred integration platform.
For his part, Prime Minister Pashinyan has acknowledged that full membership in the EU and the EAEU is difficult to reconcile in the long term. At the same time, he has said that Armenia intends to maintain cooperation with both structures for as long as possible and continue balancing its foreign policy interests.
The issue remains one of the most significant strategic and economic policy questions facing Armenia in the coming years.
