Putin urges Armenian referendum on EU or Russia-led bloc
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Armenia to hold a nationwide referendum as soon as possible on whether to pursue European Union membership or remain in the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Kremlin said.
The issue was raised during a July 27 phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, their first reported telephone conversation since Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary election.
Putin reaffirmed his support for a May 29 joint statement issued by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan calling for Armenia to put the choice to a referendum “as soon as possible.”
Pashinyan responded that such a vote would be feasible only after Armenia submits a formal application for EU membership and the issue takes on a substantive basis, according to his office.
