Russia said on Saturday it has recalled its ambassador to Armenia "for consultations" over Yerevan's increasingly close ties with the EU, in another escalation in the run-up to Armenia’s decisive 7 June elections.
"The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Armenia, SP Kopyrkin, has been recalled to Moscow for consultations in connection with steps taken by the Armenian leadership toward rapprochement with the European Union," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
A day earlier, Russia continued to increase its pressure on the government of Premier Nikol Pashinyan ahead of the elections, announcing that it would impose “temporary restrictions” on Armenian exports of certain fruits and vegetables, adding to the recent bans on Armenian mineral water, wines and brandy.
Also on Friday, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) leaders issued a joint statement warning Armenia that its plans to join the EU pose “serious risks” to the economic security of all EAEU countries.
During their summit in Astana, 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.
