Pashinyan says Armenia cannot remain in both the EEU and EU

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that Armenia cannot simultaneously be a member of both the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the European Union, and will eventually have to make a choice.

Speaking at the GLOBSEC 2025 forum in Prague, Pashinyan said: “Of course, we understand that we cannot be members of both the EEU and the EU. It is obvious that at some point in the future, we will have to make a decision.”

He added that when the time comes, the issue will be brought into Armenia’s domestic political agenda: “Together with our citizens, we will make that decision.”

Pashinyan emphasized, however, that Armenia is not aiming to sever ties with Russia.

“I recently said that our parliament adopted legislation to begin the EU membership process. We are currently cooperating very closely with the EU. But on the other hand, we are not pursuing a policy of cutting relations with Russia, because our foreign policy is balanced. That is our strategy,” he said.

He also noted that Armenia does not plan to expel Russian military forces from its territory.

Armenia’s parliament adopted a law in March to formally initiate the process of joining the European Union.