Pashinyan stated that Armenia will not hold a referendum on EU membership
In Bishkek, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was their first face-to-face conversation since the parliamentary elections in Armenia in June.
Putin stated that Armenia's aspiration to join the European Union is a legitimate right of the country, but it creates certain difficulties, as Armenia is part of the Eurasian Economic Union. According to him, the sooner Yerevan decides on its choice in favor of the EU, the better, as Moscow needs to understand how to build relations with Armenia in the future.
He also, not for the first time, suggested putting the question of Armenia's accession to the EU to a referendum. Pashinyan, however, stated that Armenia had abandoned this idea.
Putin and Pashinyan last met in Moscow in early April. In June, parliamentary elections were held in Armenia, in which Pashinyan's 'Civil Contract' party received more than 49.7% of the votes.
In recent years, Pashinyan has advocated for a gradual rapprochement between Armenia and the European Union. Moscow believes that simultaneous membership in the EU and EAEU is impossible. The Armenian Prime Minister himself stated that the country would continue cooperation within the EAEU until a choice between the two blocs becomes inevitable.
There are also disagreements between Yerevan and Moscow on the issue of the CSTO. In late August, Pashinyan stated that he would even be glad if Armenia were excluded from this organization.
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