In the run-up to Armenia’s decisive 7 June elections, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) leaders issued a joint statement warning Armenia that its EU accession plans pose “serious risks” to the economic security of all EAEU countries.
During their summit in Astana on Friday, the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan called on Yerevan to hold a national referendum as soon as possible on Armenia’s choice between the EU and the Moscow-led bloc.
They warned Yerevan that its move towards EU accession may lead to the country's suspension from the organisation and launched a so-called formal review into Armenia’s membership in view of a possible suspension by December.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already touted the idea of a referendum on Armenia's future, saying earlier that it would be “quite logical ... to ask the Armenian citizens what their choice would be."
"Based on that, we would make our own choice as well," he said at the time.
