Armenia will have to join the sanctions against Russia and leave the EAEU if it joins the EU. This was stated by the Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu.
"According to the most conservative estimates, leaving the EAEU at the stage of the negotiation process on joining the European Union will cost Armenia 30-40% of its GDP and the loss of privileges. These steps will be directed not only against Russia and Belarus, but also against Iran, with which Armenia's trade turnover by the end of 2024 amounted to more than $737 million," Shoigu said.
He also noted that if Yerevan joins the European Union, it will be obliged to impose customs duties on goods from Russia and other EAEU countries.
The Armenian publication "Hraparak", citing sources, writes that the country's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan instructed departments to restore interaction with Russian leaders and "actively participate in joint events." According to the publication, such an order was given "against the backdrop of recent geopolitical changes."
In addition, "Hraparak" notes that last week Pashinyan accepted the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Moscow on May 9. This was reported in the Kremlin on March 14 following a telephone conversation between the two leaders. It is noteworthy that the meeting was not announced in the statement of the Armenian side. At the same time, a few days later, the speaker of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan expressed uncertainty that the prime minister would go to Moscow.
The Kremlin responded positively to the information about Pashinyan's order to restore interdepartmental ties with Russia. According to the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov, the country's authorities are satisfied with Yerevan's interest in developing bilateral cooperation.
"Relations between Russia and Armenia have not been interrupted. They cannot be interrupted. Armenia is a friendly country for us. It is a sovereign state, but we have a lot in common - bilaterally, historically, and culturally. And in terms of joint participation in such an important integration association as the EAEU. And of course, we are more than satisfied with such a mutual attitude of the Armenian side to the prospects of our bilateral relations and are ready to develop them in every possible way,” Peskov said.
In January, at a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that last year was not easy for relations between the countries, while emphasizing that the Russian side is interested in strengthening cooperation.
In March, Mirzoyan said that Armenia continues its partnership with Russia, but is also interested in cooperation with other countries. In particular, the Armenian parliament adopted a bill on the beginning of the country's accession to the EU. At the same time, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the final decision must be approved through a national referendum.
Russia has repeatedly warned that Armenia will not be able to be a member of the European Union and the EAEU at the same time. The Armenian Foreign Ministry, in turn, stated that the country should use the advantages of integration with both the EAEU and the EU. Deputy Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan recalled that in 2017, Armenia, while in the EAEU, signed a comprehensive and enhanced partnership agreement (CEPA) with the EU. According to him, this also seemed impossible back then.
