Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stressed the need for the Armenian people to decide whether to join the European Union or remain a member of the Eurasian Union before December 2026.
The official said in an interview with the Russian news agency TASS: "Armenia must hold a national referendum on joining the European Union or remaining a member of the Eurasian Economic Union before December 2026, when the issue of possible next steps towards Yerevan will be discussed during the meeting of the heads of state of the member countries of the Eurasian Union."
In an interview with the Russian news agency TASS, Galuzin explained that it is clear that if Yerevan does not respond to this request to hold a referendum by that time, the leaders of the member states will take that into account when determining their next joint steps in dealing with Armenia.
The Russian diplomat noted that the joint statement signed by the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on May 29, regarding Armenia’s European orientation, stressed the need to hold a national referendum in Armenia as soon as possible, but indicated that the issue would be raised again during the Supreme Eurasian Council meeting next December.
Galuzin added that the next meeting will include a report on the potential consequences of suspending the Eurasian Union Treaty with respect to Armenia, signed on May 29, 2014.
