Armenia Must Decide Whom to Align With: EU or EEU, Says Russian Senator

Russian Senator Andrei Klimov believes that sooner or later, Armenia will have to decide whether to align itself with the European Union or the Eurasian Economic Union. His comments come in light of President Putin's suggestion to hold a referendum on this topic in Armenia.

Klimov clarified that Putin emphasized he does not interfere in the affairs of a sovereign nation. However, he believes the idea of a referendum did not arise randomly. According to the senator, it is impossible to 'play for two teams at the same time.’ The EU and EEU are global competitors, and these unions were created to protect the interests of their members, not outsiders.

The senator expressed particular frustration with Armenia's current leadership, led by Prime Minister Pashinyan, which openly discusses rapprochement with Europe while simultaneously wanting to retain all the benefits and privileges derived from EEU membership. Klimov is convinced that this cannot continue indefinitely, as it is impossible to gain access to the EU and at the same time enjoy the advantages of Eurasian integration.

Andrei Klimov also expressed doubts about whether Armenians genuinely aspire to join the European Union. He noted that among his acquaintances who hold Armenian passports, there is no 'fanatical conviction' that their lives would improve in the EU. For this reason, he believes a referendum would be an honest tool to verify if the course pursued by the authorities aligns with the people's desires.