Russian top official calls on Armenia to clarify EU or EAEU alignment

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said Armenia should clarify its strategic economic alignment, arguing that it must choose between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union to avoid prolonged uncertainty.

Speaking to TASS, Overchuk said that diverging regulatory frameworks between the two blocs make it difficult for Armenia to pursue parallel integration.

“If, for example, Armenia moves toward the European Union, then new standards and new technical regulations arise there that do not correspond to ours. A simple example: you want to organise jam production. You need to purchase some equipment. Will you buy this equipment according to European standards or according to Eurasian standards?” he said.

“And until you have an answer to this completely simple and obvious question, you will not be able to determine what kind of jam you will make, what packaging it will have, what description of this product will be, what requirements, in what languages. All of this will need to be understood,” he added.

Overchuk stressed that Armenia would ultimately need to make a clear decision on its direction.

“If Armenia goes to the European Union, then it must decide and make a choice where it belongs,” he said, referring to a statement adopted by four EAEU leaders at a recent meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana. He said the declaration “very clearly suggests that the Armenian leadership should consider holding a referendum as soon as possible.”

He argued that resolving the issue would benefit all parties, particularly by reducing uncertainty for investors.

“This would be in the interests of everyone, because the suspended position that has developed today creates uncertainty, primarily for investors,” Overchuk said. “Uncertainty harms everyone, including Armenia itself. Therefore, the EAEU leaders have asked, if possible, to make a decision as soon as possible.”

By Tamilla Hasanova