Pashinyan: Armenia not preparing to leave Eurasian Economic Union

Armenia is not preparing to leave the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing Sputnik Armenia, that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made the statement during a briefing in parliament, responding to journalists’ questions about whether Yerevan was making political preparations to leave the EAEU.

Pashinyan said the government was working to develop alternatives so that the people could make a choice, but that Armenia currently had no intention of leaving the EAEU. He said the steps were aimed at making an official application to begin the process of full membership in the European Union in 2027–2028. He also said the government had reviewed a report by the EAEU Intergovernmental Council on the possible consequences of Armenia leaving the union and disagreed with most of its findings.

Armenia’s parliament passed a law in March 2025 to begin the process of joining the European Union. At an EAEU summit in May this year, and in statements by Russian officials, the need for Yerevan to make a clear choice between the EAEU and the EU, including through a referendum, was emphasized. Official statistics indicate that if Armenia leaves the EAEU, it could risk losing about 40% of its trade turnover and a significant share of its gross domestic product.