Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has rejected a demand from Moscow to hold an immediate referendum on leaving the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to join the European Union (EU).
The refusal came on Monday during a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who reportedly wished Pashinyan a happy birthday. The Armenian leader called the demand “absurd.” Tensions have escalated rapidly as Moscow ramps up economic and diplomatic pressure on its traditional ally, which is increasingly leaning toward the West.
The tension flared at the EAEU summit in Kazakhstan on May 29, when Putin, along with fellow member states Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, issued a joint statement urging Armenia to hold a referendum on joining the EU “as soon as possible.” The Russian leader insisted that a country cannot be a member of both the EU and the EAEU simultaneously.
Putin also issued a veiled threat, warning Armenia not to pursue Western ambitions and noting that the “Ukrainian scenario” began with Kyiv’s EU membership aspirations.
In a video posted on social media, Pashinyan stated that his government in Yerevan would continue working within the EAEU framework until the choice between the two blocs “becomes unavoidable.” He emphasized that any referendum before Armenia formally applies for EU candidate status remains purely theoretical. “Putting a theoretical choice to a referendum is neither reasonable nor justified,” Pashinyan said, describing relations with Russia as being in a “transitional phase.”
Both the Kremlin and Yerevan confirmed that Putin called Pashinyan to discuss the summit outcomes and extend birthday greetings. However, Russia has significantly intensified pressure on Armenia ahead of the parliamentary elections in the Caucasus nation on June 7.
Over the weekend, Moscow recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations. On Monday, Russia’s agricultural watchdog suspended imports of Armenian fish and seafood, citing sanitary violations. The ban hits a critical sector, as 30% of Armenia's fish products are exported to Russia, and follows previous trade restrictions on Armenian agricultural goods, flowers, mineral water, and wine—a common tactic when Moscow is displeased with countries in its sphere of influence.
The European Union on Monday accused Moscow of trying to paralyze Armenia's economy to influence the upcoming election results. A longtime Russian ally, Armenia has diversified its ties since its neighbor failed to intervene during Azerbaijan’s 2023 military offensive into Nagorno-Karabakh, which led to Armenia losing control of the disputed territory. This process accelerated after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Yerevan has significantly tightened its European ties, hosting its first official EU summit last month alongside a broader European meeting attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Armenia also hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for a state visit, which drew sharp criticism from the Kremlin after a video showed Macron singing while Pashinyan played drums.
