Joint decision could temporarily suspend EAEU Treaty’s application to Armenia, intergovernmental council report says
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Representatives of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council have submitted a report on the possible consequences of suspending the application of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union to Armenia.
The Russian Government reported this.
It said the report, entitled “On the Possible Consequences of Suspending the Application of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union of 29 May 2014 to the Republic of Armenia”, was prepared by the council members representing the four countries pursuant to the joint statement issued by the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on 29 May 2026.
The report includes information on measures Armenia has taken towards joining the European Union; an analysis of the compatibility of the legal regimes of the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, particularly Armenia’s obligations under EAEU membership and those associated with EU accession; information on legal mechanisms intended to prevent risks arising from Armenia’s decision to join the EU; and assessments of the possible consequences of suspending the application of the EAEU Treaty of 29 May 2014 to Armenia.
An appeal addressed to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, with the report attached, was sent to the Eurasian Economic Commission on 20 October 2026 for formal transmission to the council’s members—the leaders of the EAEU member states.
The report states that Armenia’s actions run counter to the obligation enshrined in Article 3 of the EAEU Treaty, under which member states must help create favourable conditions for the Union to perform its functions and refrain from measures that could jeopardise the achievement of its objectives.
At the same time, the document emphasises that the EAEU Treaty does not explicitly provide a mechanism allowing member states to unilaterally suspend its application to another member state.
In light of this, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan invoke universally recognised norms and principles of international law, particularly the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
According to the report’s authors, these legal grounds allow the four countries to consider adopting a joint decision temporarily suspending the application to Armenia of the EAEU Treaty and other international treaties forming part of the Union’s legal system.
The document states that such a decision could remain in force until a referendum is held in Armenia on whether the country should continue participating in the EAEU or join the European Union.
At the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana on 29 May 2026, the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan issued a joint statement expressing concern that Armenia’s steps towards European integration could pose risks to the economic security of EAEU member states.
The four leaders instructed their representatives to submit a report by December 2026 on the consequences of a possible suspension of the EAEU Treaty’s application to Armenia. They also supported holding a nationwide referendum in Armenia as soon as possible on whether to join the EU or remain in the EAEU.