Mirzoyan unaware of legal mechanism to expel Armenia from EAEU or suspend its membership

Armenia is unaware of any legal mechanism allowing the other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union to expel it from the bloc or suspend its membership.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan said this during a briefing with journalists, noting that the Government was examining the report submitted by representatives of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus on the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and would formulate its position accordingly.

“The document you referred to was published yesterday. It is quite a lengthy document. We are studying and analysing it, and will determine the Republic of Armenia’s course of action and position accordingly,” the minister said.

Addressing the legal aspects, Mirzoyan said Armenia was unaware of any mechanism allowing one member state to be expelled by a decision of the others, including through the suspension of its membership. He added that Armenia would examine the report and respond.

The minister also stressed that, while economic interests were important, Armenia’s sovereignty and independence took precedence.

“Of course, our citizens’ well-being, trade, economic interests and our traditional ties with the Russian Federation and the other EAEU members are important to us. But there is something that takes precedence and is more important than anything else: the Republic of Armenia’s sovereignty and independence. Our position will therefore be closely determined by this consideration,” Mirzoyan stressed.

On 20 October, the report prepared by representatives of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan was sent to the Eurasian Economic Commission for transmission to the leaders of the member states. It concerns the consequences of a possible suspension of the EAEU Treaty’s application to Armenia.

The report states that four EAEU member states—Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus—could adopt a decision temporarily suspending the Treaty’s application to Armenia.