Russian Foreign Ministry: Pashinyan has until December, otherwise the EAEU will take further steps

The Armenian government headed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan needs to hold a national referendum on joining the European Union or maintaining membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) until December 2026, when the issue of possible further steps towards Yerevan will be discussed at a meeting of the heads of the EAEU member states. This was pointed out by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.

"It is obvious that if the call for a referendum is not heard by that time, the leaders will take this fact into account when determining the appropriate further joint steps," Galuzin said in an interview with TASS.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation drew attention to the fact that "the joint statement of the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan dated May 29 regarding Armenia's European aspirations states the need to hold a national referendum in this country on joining the EU or staying in the EAEU as soon as possible, but without specifying a specific date."

"At the same time, it has already been indicated that this issue will be discussed again during the December meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, when the heads of state will have to submit a report on the possible consequences of the suspension of the EAEU Treaty of May 29, 2014 with respect to Armenia," Galuzin stressed.

As EADaily reported, on August 7, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking at an expanded meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Kyrgyzstan, said that the referendum in Armenia's choice between the EAEU and The EU is impossible.

On May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference that Yerevan should decide as soon as possible on the issue of participation in the The EU or the EAEU, allowing the possibility of an "intelligent divorce." According to him, it would be possible to hold a referendum on this issue.