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Moscow has once again insisted that Armenia should decide whether to hold a referendum on remaining part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or pursuing EU membership, despite Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan making clear as recently as last week that no such agenda exists.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told the TASS news agency that Moscow expects Armenia to make a decision regarding the proposed referendum by December this year, when potential actions against Armenia will be discussed at an EAEU summit.
“It is obvious that if the call for a referendum is ignored by that time, the leaders will take this fact into consideration when deciding on further joint steps,” Galuzin said.
“Moreover, it has already been indicated that the issue will be discussed at the December meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, when the leaders of the member states are expected to receive a report on the possible consequences of suspending the provisions of the EAEU treaty with regard to Armenia,” Galuzin said.
Amid Yerevan’s deepening ties with the EU, as well as the parliament’s adoption of a law calling on the government to start the process of EU integration, Armenia’s fellow EAEU members, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, announced earlier this year that Yerevan should hold a referendum on the matter to clarify its stance, arguing that simultaneous membership in both unions is incompatible. However, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan rejected the proposal, insisting that putting a theoretical matter to a referendum is not possible at this stage, as Yerevan has not even officially applied for EU membership.
“A referendum, of course, will take place, but only after Armenia officially applies for EU membership, and institutional work must be carried out in that direction. Holding a referendum today is impossible because the subject of such a referendum does not exist,” Pashinyan said last week.