FM rejects legal grounds cited in ‘politically motivated’ report on possible suspension of Armenia’s EAEU membership

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has challenged a recent report by Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states on the possible expulsion of Armenia from the bloc, saying that Yerevan has not violated any of its obligations under the organization and has no intention of doing so.

Speaking at a press conference, Mirzoyan said that while EAEU documents do not provide for the expulsion of a member state or the suspension of its participation, the Vienna Document contains a provision allowing such action on specific grounds, which, however, do not pertain to Armenia in this case.

“Our EAEU partners say that although the EAEU documents do not provide for members to expel another member or suspend its participation, the Vienna Document contains a provision of this kind. Yes, such a provision exists, but on very specific grounds. For this to happen, the partner that the others are dissatisfied with and want to expel or suspend must violate its obligations within the organization, so that the other four partners can say: ‘You are violating our rules, dear fifth friend. Thank you, goodbye,’” Mirzoyan said.

The minister emphasized that Armenia has not violated any of its obligations within the EAEU and has no intention of doing so.

“Legally, I understand that our partners may have made efforts to find a legal basis, but I disagree with the arguments being presented. We all understand that there is a political motive here and perhaps a political instruction to lawyers to find a legal justification. We have faithfully fulfilled our obligations and hope that our other EAEU partners will also faithfully fulfill their bilateral obligations toward us and will not violate them. Unfortunately, we have seen examples to the contrary in recent months,” he said.

Mirzoyan reaffirmed that Armenia’s statehood, independence and sovereignty are at the core of its decisions and conduct.

“We will try to hold constructive discussions with our other partners,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said.

The prime ministers of Russia and three other Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states have not ruled out suspending Armenia’s membership in the bloc, citing Yerevan’s efforts to join the European Union. In a joint report on the “possible consequences” of suspending Armenia’s membership, released on October 20, they said the proposed suspension could remain in place until an Armenian referendum on EU membership. The report, posted on the Russian government’s website, says that Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan “have the right to consider” suspending the EAEU Treaty’s application to Armenia because of a 2025 Armenian law declaring the start of a process of accession to the EU.

As grounds for temporarily suspending Armenia’s participation in the organization, the parties cite the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.