Armenian politician: Armenia has "nothing to choose from" in the referendum proposed by the EAEU countries

ArmInfo. Armenia currently has "nothing to choose from" in the referendum proposed by the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries, but the organization is not prepared to wait for the country to "pave the way" to the European Union (EU) and is demanding a choice be made here and now. Artak Zakaryan, a member of the board of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and former Deputy Defense Minister, wrote this on his Facebook page.

He is confident that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan does not want to choose between the EU and the EAEU, and is instead trying to "sell" the parties the very right to choose. Meanwhile, as Zakaryan noted, the option of choosing in favor of the EU is not only absent at the moment, but also that Armenia is still very far from the actual process that could lead to its formation. "In March 2025, the Armenian Parliament adopted the law 'On the beginning of the process of accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union.'" It sounds "impressive", but so far not even an official application to join the EU has been submitted. There is no candidate country status, much less any accession negotiations. Naturally, there is no decision by the EU that Armenia will ever be accepted into its ranks. So what referendum are we talking about then? ”, the politician asked a rather rhetorical question. He recalled that on the one hand there is the real EAEU, of which Armenia has been a member since 2015, and on the other hand, a potential EU in the future, if, of course, Armenia submits an application; if it is recognized as a candidate; if negotiations begin and it is possible to implement a huge package of reforms; and if, ultimately, all EU member countries agree to accept Armenia. “That is, one of the two alternatives simply does not exist. Therefore, there is “nothing to choose from” in the referendum proposed by the EAEU countries. This is a fact. However, it is also a fact that the EAEU does not want to wait for Armenia to "pave the way" to the EU and demands a choice be made here and now. For the Pashinyan government, abandoning the EAEU is presumably not difficult. But what to hold on to then is unclear," Zakaryan noted.

In this regard, he recalled that in 2025, approximately 35.3% of Armenia's total exports went to Russia. "Trade turnover between Armenia and the EAEU exceeded $8 billion, and exports amounted to $3.2 billion. Russia's share is currently declining. In the first half of 2026, trade with Russia decreased, amounting to approximately $2.6 billion, and Russia's share in Armenia's foreign trade decreased to approximately 27.5%. The EAEU's share was approximately 29.4%. "For the small Armenian economy, these are quite significant losses," the RPA board member emphasized.

For comparison, he noted that in 2025, the EU accounted for 11.3% of Armenia's total foreign trade turnover and only 7.9% of its exports. "That's the whole arithmetic of the European choice. Economic indicators show that Europe is not yet capable of replacing the Russian (Eurasian) market. The door to the EAEU can be ceremoniously closed tomorrow. But after that, Armenian businesses will have to explain where to export their products the next day. Pashinyan is unwilling and unable to explain this. "He will try to find more or less comparable alternatives and only then decide whether to close the door that feeds the economy and place the country under the exorbitant burden of new Western loans, or continue political bargaining with both sides," Zakarian concluded.

As a reminder, on January 9, 2025, the Armenian government approved a draft law on the start of the process of joining the European Union, proposed by the "Eurakve" civic initiative. The draft was sent to the Armenian parliament for approval. On March 26, the parliament adopted it in its final reading and sent it to the president for signature. The document was signed on April 4 of that year. Moscow stated that Russia had conveyed to Armenia that simultaneous membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union was impossible. On May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to journalists, suggested that Armenia decide on its membership in the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) as soon as possible, expressing its readiness to "begin a civilized divorce" if necessary. Yerevan responded by stating that it would leave the EAEU when it deemed it necessary. And on May 29, the heads of state of four of the five EAEU countries adopted a resolution recommending that Armenia hold a referendum on its continued membership in the EAEU. That same day, the Russian president stated that Armenia would not be able to sit on both sides and needed to make a choice as soon as possible.