A Russian-led economic alliance of former Soviet states said Friday it could suspend Armenia if it continues pursuing European Union membership, urging Yerevan to hold a referendum so citizens can decide whether the country should deepen ties with Europe or remain aligned with the bloc.
After a meeting in Astana, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) said it will consider suspending Armenia later this year out of concerns its pursuit of EU membership jeopardises the union's economic security.
The leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan said that Armenia's westward integration posed "significant risks to the economic security" of the EAEU, and that its continued membership would be reviewed at the group's next meeting in December.
They also called on Yerevan to hold a popular referendum on joining the EU, and to include an option of staying in the Moscow-led group, founded in 2015.
Speaking after the Astana summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the EAEU would be forced to "scale back... practically all our work with Armenia concerning integration processes in the economic sphere".
