Armenia’s Pashinyan rejects Russia’s call for EU referendum

Putin and Pashinyan Hold Phone Call Amid Russia-Armenia Tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Sunday to congratulate him on his 51st birthday, a gesture of diplomatic courtesy that contrasted sharply with the escalating pressure Moscow has placed on Yerevan in recent weeks over its pursuit of closer ties with the European Union.

A Phone Call Against a Tense Backdrop

According to the Kremlin’s official readout, Putin wished Pashinyan good health and success, noting that “relations between our countries and our peoples have traditionally been friendly, and we have a strong interest in their continued, progressive development.” Armenian media reported that the two leaders also discussed the bilateral agenda and outcomes of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council summit held in Astana on May 28–29.kremlin

The cordial tone stood in contrast to the events of the preceding days. On Friday, Putin and leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan issued a joint statement calling on Armenia to hold a referendum on EU membership “as soon as possible,” warning that Yerevan’s pursuit of European integration poses “significant risks” to the Eurasian Economic Union. The leaders instructed officials to prepare a report by December on the “potential repercussions of suspending” Armenia’s membership in the bloc.bssnews

Pashinyan Rejects Referendum Demand

On Monday, Pashinyan rejected the referendum call, according to AFP, maintaining his position that there is “no objective need” for such a vote at this time. The Armenian premier has consistently argued that membership in the EAEU and closer EU ties can coexist, pushing back on Putin’s framing that the two paths are incompatible.apnews

Russia recalled its ambassador to Armenia, Sergei Kopyrkin, on Saturday for consultations over what Moscow described as steps by the Armenian leadership toward rapprochement with the EU. The move came one day after Putin warned at the Astana summit that Armenia could lose up to 14 percent of its gross domestic product if it leaves the Moscow-led bloc.bloomberg

EU Responds as Elections Approach

The European Union on Monday condemned what it called Russian “coercion” against Armenia, with a spokesman stating the bloc would “continue supporting Armenia to handle such attempts.” Reuters reported that Western intelligence officials believe Russia is intensifying covert operations to destabilize Pashinyan’s reelection campaign ahead of Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections, including disinformation campaigns and efforts to transport Russian-Armenians to influence the vote.indopremier

The phone call between Putin and Pashinyan — a mix of birthday pleasantries and diplomatic signaling — encapsulated the contradictions of a relationship under mounting strain, with Armenia’s geopolitical orientation set to be tested at the ballot box in one week.