Poll: About 60% of Armenian citizens surveyed believe it is necessary to hold a referendum to choose between the EAEU and the EU

ArmInfo. About 60% of respondents believe a referendum on the choice between the European Union (EU) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) should be held. This was announced by Aram Navasardyan, Director of MPG LLC (MPG), a full member of the international association GALLUP in Armenia, at a press conference in Yerevan on September 25, presenting the survey results. The survey, he said, was conducted via telephone calls to residents of the Republic of Armenia from September 22 to 24, with a sample size of 1,001 people.

The first question recalled that the leaders of the four EAEU countries adopted a joint statement and called on Armenia to hold a national referendum as soon as possible on the choice between joining the EU and remaining in the EAEU. Respondents were asked whether they considered such a referendum necessary. According to Navasardyan, 38.5% answered definitely yes, while 20.3% answered somewhat yes. This means that approximately 60% of respondents believe a referendum should be held.

At the same time, 9.3% answered somewhat no, 25.1% answered definitely no, and 6.9% were undecided. "When asked how they would personally vote if such a referendum were to take place in Armenia, 29.4% said they considered it necessary to remain in the EAEU, 35.1% said they should leave the EAEU and seek EU membership. 24.7% said they would not participate in the vote, and 10.9% were undecided," Navasardyan reported.

The next question, according to him, concerned the restrictions imposed by Russia. Specifically, citizens were asked what, in their opinion, motivated Russia's restrictions on the import of Armenian products. As the expert clarified, respondents were presented with several answer options from which to choose. In this case, they were given the opportunity to select multiple options. "Thus, 52.4% noted that the restrictions were introduced to exert economic pressure on the Armenian government, 40.5% believe they are due to Armenia's aspirations to join the EU, and 5.1% linked the restrictions to the quality of Armenian goods," Navasardyan summarized.

As a reminder, on January 9, 2025, the Armenian government approved a draft law on the start of the accession process to 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 the 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. 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 when 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 could not sway between the two and needed to make a choice as soon as possible.