Parliamentary elections are being held in Armenia on Sunday, June 7. The election is being watched with great interest as it could re-evaluate Armenia's geopolitical proximity.
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Armenian Prime Minister Nikolay Pashinyan has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's request for a referendum. On Monday, while wishing Prime Minister Pashinyan a happy birthday, Putin had urged him to decide on the issue of leaving the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and joining the European Union (EU) through a referendum. However, Pashinyan said that Putin's unreasonable demand was rejected. Armenia, which has been a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), has recently been taking the initiative for EU membership. However, it has not yet submitted a formal application.
The law passed by the Armenian parliament in March 2025 states that the EU membership process will begin.
Earlier, leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the first EU summit hosted by Armenia last month. Armenia also welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron. These steps have been criticized by Russia.
On May 29, Russia and the other EAEU member states Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan issued a joint press release urging Armenia to decide whether to remain in the EAEU or join the EU through a referendum.
Putin has said that EAEU member states should not become members of the European Union. However, Pashinyan has said that his country will remain a member of both organizations until it is forced to choose between the two. Similarly, he said that any referendum held before submitting a formal application for EU membership would be practically meaningless.
“Holding a referendum on a theoretical choice is neither sensible nor practical,” Pashinyan said. He said that relations with Russia were in a transitional phase.
Parliamentary elections are being held in Armenia on Sunday, June 7. The election is being watched with great interest as it could reassess Armenia's geopolitical proximity.
Prime Minister Pashinyan has very good relations with Western countries. On the other hand, opposition parties have been saying that relations with Russia should be strengthened. They have been accusing Pashinyan of trying to lead Armenia on the path to Ukraine.
Just on Monday, Russia's agricultural regulatory body decided to ban fish and seafood imports from Armenia, citing public health reasons. Russia accounts for 30 percent of Armenia's seafood and fish industry.
Russia has also banned flowers, mineral water and alcohol from Armenia. The European Union has condemned Russia for taking steps to influence Armenia's economy and the outcome of the upcoming elections. As tensions rise, Russia has also recalled its ambassador from Armenia.
Armenia, a former Soviet republic and long-time ally of Russia, has been diversifying its economy since 2023.
Armenia has complained that Russia did not help when Azerbaijan invaded Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. Armenia lost territory it controlled in the conflict.
