Pashinyan warns export paralysis could mark "beginning of the end" for EAEU

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a stern warning regarding the future of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on Wednesday, July 29, warning that persistent trade paralysis and unaddressed export restrictions could trigger the bloc’s collapse.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting of his ruling Civil Contract party, Pashinyan expressed frustration over systemic trade barriers within the single market, directly tying them to Armenia's strategic pivot toward alternative economic partnerships, Caliber.Az reports, referring to Armenian media.

"In fact, it turns out that the EAEU is paralysed and not working. If this issue is not resolved quickly, allow me to predict that this will be the beginning of the end of the EAEU," Pashinyan said, addressing ongoing restrictions on Armenian exports within the economic bloc.

The prime minister revealed that he had explicitly discussed Armenia's sovereign right to pursue alternative international alignments during direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"A dialogue with Vladimir Putin took place. On at least several issues, we reached a common understanding: most importantly, that Armenia has a legitimate right to build alternatives for itself. I told the President of the Russian Federation that we have proclaimed this path and will follow it, especially now that the people of Armenia voted for this. Armenia should always and in all matters have alternatives, and the era of lack of alternatives is closed. The question here is when this alternative should be implemented," Pashinyan stated.

Addressing growing domestic discussion over a potential public referendum regarding European integration versus EAEU membership, Pashinyan outlined the procedural sequence required for such a step, noting that Armenia must formally submit an application for European Union membership prior to holding any national vote.

By Tamilla Hasanova