Zatulin: Under Pashinyan, there will be no easing of trade and economic relations between Russia and Armenia

ArmInfo. While Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is in power, there will be no easing of trade and economic relations between Russia and Armenia. Konstantin Zatulin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, stated this in an interview with NSN.

The parliamentarian emphasized that any deterioration in relations is linked to Yerevan's policy of seeking alliances with Moscow's adversaries.

"Despite periodic contacts, there will be no easing of relations while Mr. Pashinyan is in power," Zatulin stated.

He added that Russia will not succumb to blackmail from Armenia. The MP also believes that the Prime Minister will not hold a referendum on joining the European Union because he is afraid of losing.

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. And on May 29, the heads of four of the five EAEU countries adopted a resolution recommending that Armenia hold a referendum on its continued membership in the EAEU. That same day, the Russian President stated that Armenia cannot sit on both sides and needs to make a choice as soon as possible.

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