Lead

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that a referendum on his country's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will not take place until Armenia officially applies for full membership in the European Union — a position that a senior Russian security official has framed as reluctance to hold the vote.

Speaking at a campaign event in the Gegharkunik Province on June 2, Pashinyan responded to a reporter's question about a resolution adopted by the leaders of four EAEU member states at a May 29 meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan. The resolution called for Yerevan to hold a referendum on choosing between EAEU and EU membership.

"I have read it. The text is very balanced," Pashinyan said, according to TASS. "You see, until Armenia officially applies for full EU membership, there is no real ground for a referendum. No referendum will take place until it happens. But as soon as it happens, a referendum will be held."

Coverage Comparison

The story was covered by two TASS English-language reports. The first, published on June 2, focused on Pashinyan's response to the EAEU resolution, presenting his statement in a neutral tone and quoting him directly. The second, published on June 3, centered on comments by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, who interpreted Pashinyan's remarks as a sign of unwillingness to hold the referendum.

Both articles come from TASS, Russia's state news agency, which is known for reflecting official Russian government positions. While the first article contained no loaded language, the second used phrases such as "unwilling" and "unpleasant conversation" in reference to Pashinyan's potential interaction with "European patrons," signaling a more critical tone.

Key Claims

  • Pashinyan stated that a referendum on EAEU membership would not take place before Yerevan submits an application to join the European Union. This was reported by both TASS articles.
  • The resolution on the need for Yerevan to hold a referendum on choosing between EAEU or EU membership was adopted by four EAEU member states, according to TASS's first report.
  • Pashinyan described the resolution as "very balanced," as quoted by TASS.
  • Pashinyan said a referendum will be held as soon as Armenia officially applies for full EU membership, per the same report.
  • Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu commented on Pashinyan's statement, suggesting it reflects a reluctance to hold the referendum. This claim is attributed to a statement released by the Russian Security Council's press service and carried by TASS's second article.

Perspectives

Armenian government perspective

Pashinyan's public positioning ties the referendum to the formal EU application process, suggesting that the referendum is a natural next step after Armenia commits to EU membership — not something to be rushed before the legal groundwork is in place.

Russian official perspective

Sergey Shoigu's comments imply that Pashinyan's condition for holding the referendum is a delaying tactic, and that the Armenian government may be avoiding a vote that could result in a rejection of EAEU membership, which would complicate relations with its European partners.

Context

Armenia has been a member of the EAEU — a Russia-led economic bloc — since 2015. In recent years, Yerevan has increasingly signaled interest in closer ties with the European Union, creating tensions with Moscow. The May 29 resolution by four EAEU members came amid this backdrop, though the full context of the meeting and the resolution's details were not fully elaborated in the available reports.

As of this writing, there has been no independent verification or additional commentary from Armenian officials beyond Pashinyan's own remarks, nor has the EU or other international actors publicly responded to the statements.