EAEU to Review Armenia's Membership Options by December, Russian Officials Say

EAEU to Review Armenia's Membership Options by December, Russian Officials Say

St. Petersburg, June 5 (TASS) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk has indicated that Armenia faces a critical decision between its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and its recent moves toward European Union integration. Speaking on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Overchuk stressed that the EAEU does not seek punitive measures against Armenia but expressed concern over Yerevan's pivot toward the EU, which he described as having transformed into a "military-political alliance" hostile to Russia.

The comments come ahead of a December deadline for EAEU leaders to receive a report on potential actions regarding Armenia's membership, as outlined in a recent quadripartite statement from the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana.

EAEU Leaders Request Report by December

According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the quadripartite statement of EAEU leaders anticipates that all nuances related to Armenia's continued membership will be considered by December. Relevant institutions of the member states will report their findings to the leaders at the upcoming Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in St. Petersburg in December 2026.

Overchuk elaborated that a working group comprising interested member states will be formed to assess the situation and submit proposals. The heads of government have been instructed to consider these issues, with the goal of presenting actionable options to the leaders.

"Obviously, as it always happens in such cases, a working group will be set up, which will include the relevant interested member states. The members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, the heads of government of our countries, were instructed to consider these issues. They will assess the situation and submit proposals to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council," Overchuk explained.

Overchuk: Armenia Must Decide Between EAEU and EU

In a separate interview, Overchuk emphasized that Armenia must make a clear choice between the EAEU and the EU, warning that the current ambiguity creates uncertainty for investors and harms all parties involved. He used a practical example to illustrate the dilemma: if Armenia joins the EU, it would have to adopt European standards and technical regulations, which would conflict with EAEU norms.

"If, for example, Armenia joins the European Union, it means that new standards and new technical regulations arise there that do not correspond to ours. A simple example: you want to organize a jam production. You need to purchase equipment. Will you purchase this equipment according to European standards or Eurasian standards?" Overchuk asked.

"And until you have an answer to this perfectly simple and obvious question, you will not be able to decide which jam you will make, in which package, what description of this product will be there, what requirements, in what languages. All this will need to be understood."

Overchuk said that the recent EAEU leaders' statement "clearly suggests that the Armenian leadership consider holding a referendum as soon as possible" to resolve the issue. He argued that such a step would be in everyone's interest, as the current suspended position creates uncertainty, primarily for investors.

Legal Gaps and Working Situation

Overchuk acknowledged that the EAEU's legal framework does not currently provide for the exclusion or suspension of a member state, describing the situation as a "legal conflict" that needs to be examined. He characterized the tensions as a "normal working situation" that should be handled calmly.

"This is an issue that needs to be studied from a purely legal point of view because today we are faced with a certain legal conflict, and it needs to be considered. This should also be treated very calmly, and we will work calmly," he said. "By the way, I think the Armenians will also participate in this work, because they also understand, as members of the Eurasian Economic Union, that there are some gaps in the EAEU law that need to be closed."

However, he reiterated Russia's concerns: "We are very concerned about this European movement, which, in our opinion, potentially greatly harms Armenia, the Eurasian Union, and business in our countries, which are currently in a state of uncertainty."

Armenia's EU Aspirations and EAEU Commitments

Overchuk affirmed that Armenia has faithfully fulfilled its obligations within the EAEU, and Russia has not found any deviations in Yerevan's legal framework. Yet, Armenia's parliament adopted a law on March 26, 2025, to begin the process of EU accession, while Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that Yerevan does not intend to leave the EAEU and hopes to combine membership in both blocs as long as possible.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that integration with the EU would automatically entail termination of Armenia's interaction with the EAEU, along with the loss of associated economic preferences that Yerevan has benefited from during its EAEU membership.

Putin's comments and Overchuk's remarks suggest that Moscow views Armenia's dual-track approach as untenable in the long run. The December report is expected to clarify the EAEU's stance and potential next steps, though no concrete measures have been announced.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which runs from June 3 to 6, is organized by the Roscongress Foundation, with TASS serving as the general information partner.