Western influence blocked Armenia's signing of CIS agreements Political analyst claims

Armenia's decision to abstain from supporting key documents at the recent CIS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting could damage its credibility as a reliable partner and raise doubts about its long-term commitment to international obligations.

This perspective was shared by Grigor Balasanyan, Associate Professor of International Relations at Yerevan State University, in a recent interview with Armenian media, per Caliber.Az.

Earlier, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan confirmed that Armenia did not support two important statements at the October 7 session of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers: “On the Principles of Ensuring Security in Eurasia” and “On the Inadmissibility of Using Unilateral Sanctions in International Relations.” For Armenia, a nation integrated into the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the first document, addressing collective security responses to regional threats and crises, holds considerable importance. The statement seeks to promote diplomatic conflict resolution and condemn the use of force to undermine Eurasian cooperation.

Balasanyan stressed that security in the Eurasian region also encompasses economic and food security. He questioned whether Armenia’s refusal to sign the documents calls into question its involvement in broader Eurasian initiatives, including future participation in BRICS.

The expert suggested two possible explanations for Armenia’s decision. One might be internal discord within the government, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan possibly holding conflicting views. The other, which he sees as more likely, is that the decision was driven by external factors, particularly Western pressure.

"I don't believe this decision was entirely sovereign. Most likely, Armenia was advised not to sign at the last moment. There are advisers who come, call, write, and do everything to keep the situation under their control. Their main goal is to prevent Armenia from drifting back into Russia’s sphere of influence or from restoring warmer ties with Moscow, as this does not suit their interests," Balasanyan explained.

He further argued that the West has a vested interest in ensuring that fewer countries back such documents, as this allows it to retain leverage over key sectors in the CIS and EAEU, such as transportation, trade, and finance.

Regarding Armenia’s refusal to support the second document, “On the Inadmissibility of Using Unilateral Sanctions in International Relations,” Balasanyan highlighted the irony of the situation. The document advocates against sanctions that impede economic development, yet Armenia’s decision not to sign could be interpreted as implicit support for Western sanctions. He pointed out that Armenia has already suffered economic consequences from sanctions imposed on Russia, including a 30% drop in Russian tourism due to the disconnection of Russia's Mir payment system, along with difficulties in accessing funds through Visa and other financial networks.

“It’s surprising that these issues don’t seem to worry the Armenian authorities, who continue to tout economic growth and increased trade with Russia,” Balasanyan remarked. “By refusing to sign a declaration condemning unilateral sanctions, Armenia effectively joined these restrictions without acknowledging how they damage its own economy.”

Balasanyan also noted that Armenia had been aware of the documents' content well in advance, as interstate projects are always coordinated before such high-level meetings.

“I am confident that these documents were sent to Armenia long before the trip to Moscow. Either they weren’t properly reviewed, or the pressure was so intense that they felt unable to decline. Both options create a highly negative impression and cast a shadow over the Armenian Foreign Ministry,” the expert said.

He added that if the government had initially decided not to sign the documents, it should have declared this in advance and explained why the statements were inconsistent with Armenia’s national interests.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also commented on Armenia's involvement in drafting the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers’ statement on Eurasian security, stating that Armenia actively participated in the document’s preparation but ultimately refused to sign it. Zakharova advised asking Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan directly about the reasons behind the sudden reversal.

By Tamilla Hasanova