Maha Christopher
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has rejected a call by Russian President Vladimir Putin for Armenia to hold a referendum on joining the European Union, insisting that the country’s relationship with Moscow is undergoing a period of transformation.
According to AFP, Pashinyan made the remarks on Monday amid growing tensions between Armenia and Russia over Yerevan’s increasingly close ties with the European Union.
The Kremlin has intensified pressure on Armenia ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections, including a ban on fish imports from the country, a move that followed Putin’s warning that the “Ukrainian scenario” began with Kyiv’s ambitions to join the EU.
Responding in a video posted on social media, Pashinyan said Armenia’s ties with Russia were evolving and expressed hope that both countries would build a new relationship based on openness and sincerity.
“Our relations with Russia are in a transformation phase,” he said, adding that he hoped for “new relations” that would be successful because the ties between the two countries remain “open and sincere.”
The Armenian leader also dismissed the need for a referendum on EU membership, arguing that such a move would only become relevant if Armenia formally applied to join the bloc or moved closer to obtaining candidate status.
Putin had earlier criticised Armenia’s growing engagement with the EU, insisting that membership in both the European Union and the Moscow led Eurasian Economic Union would not be possible.
Despite the disagreement, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin and Pashinyan spoke by telephone on Monday, discussing the outcomes of the recent Eurasian Economic Union summit held in Kazakhstan.
The conversation also included birthday wishes from Putin to the Armenian leader.
On the same day, Russia’s agricultural watchdog announced a ban on fish imports from Armenia, a significant move given that about 30 per cent of Armenia’s fish farming exports are destined for the Russian market.
Moscow also recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations over Yerevan’s deepening ties with the EU, highlighting growing frustration within the Kremlin.
Armenia, a former Soviet republic and long time Russian ally, has increasingly sought closer relations with Western partners after accusing Moscow of failing to protect it during conflicts with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
Relations deteriorated further following Azerbaijan’s 2023 military offensive, which prompted criticism of Russian peacekeepers stationed in the region.
Last month, Armenia hosted its first ever European Union summit, attended by Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron, a development seen as another sign of the country’s shift toward closer engagement with Europe.
