Volodin: We can no longer remain silent about  processes unfolding in  Armenia

ArmInfo. Relations cannot develop if they are marked by dishonesty, as stated by Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, regarding Armenian-Russian relations. In a post on his Telegram channel, the parliamentarian stated that relations between the two countries are built on the basis of mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation, and  non-interference in the affairs of sovereign states. 

"These are the principles for developing international partnerships  that our country is implementing.  Regarding relations with Armenia,  this has been stated repeatedly. It is absolutely obvious that Russia  has done much to promote Armenia's development, including through the  utilization of our resources.  Armenian citizens who come to Russia  can realize their potential here and help their families and friends  back home. According to State Duma deputies, Armenian Prime Minister  Pashinyan is pursuing an unfriendly policy toward the Russian  Federation, cynically exploiting the opportunities our country  offers," Volodin stated. 

He described this as dishonest and similar to what previously  happened in Ukraine. The State Duma Speaker noted that this will lead  to nothing good. At the same time, Volodin emphasized that Russia has  always come to the aid of the Armenian people. "As is now the case,  the attitude toward the people of Armenia is friendly. At the same  time, we need to make a decision. We can no longer remain silent  about the processes taking place in Armenia, where parliament has  passed a law to launch the accession process to the European Union.  Previously, they recognized the jurisdiction of the International  Criminal Court (ICC), becoming a full member," he continued. 

Volodin is confident that all of this warrants a clear conclusion:  Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's desire to remain in the  EAEU is an attempt to continue utilizing the Eurasian space for  financial gain, which has already resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in  Armenia's GDP.  "Politically, all decisions have already been made by  Pashinyan. I want to emphasize that these choices favor alignment  with countries that are unfriendly to Russia—countries that are at  war with us, attempting to destroy the Russian Federation, and  working to counter our development. We supply gas to Armenia at a  rate nearly four times cheaper, to our own detriment (the price for  Armenia is $177.5 per thousand cubic meters, compared to $633 per  thousand cubic meters in Europe). In these challenging times, we  support Armenia's economy and its citizens. What we receive in return  is Pashinyan's duplicity and dishonesty. This cannot continue.  Relations cannot be built this way!" Volodin noted.

On May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to journalists,  suggested that Armenia decide on its membership in the EU and the  EAEU as soon as possible, expressing its readiness to "begin a  civilized divorce" if necessary. Yerevan responded by stating that it  would leave the EAEU whenever it deemed it necessary.

It should be noted that on January 9, 2025, the Armenian government  approved a draft law on the initiation of the EU accession process,  proposed by the "Eurakve" civic initiative. The draft was submitted  to the Armenian parliament for approval. On March 26, the parliament  adopted it in its final reading and sent it to the president for  signature. The document was signed on April 4, 2025. Moscow stated  that Russia had conveyed to Armenia that simultaneous membership in  the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union was impossible.