Moscow banned multimillion-dollar imports of Armenian agricultural products and beverages as it pressed Yerevan to quickly choose between seeking to join the European Union and remaining part of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
In a July 27 phone call, Russian President Vladimir Putin again told Pashinian to hold a referendum on the issue “as soon as possible.” Two days later, Pashinian declared that the Russian sanctions mean the EEU is “paralyzed” and herald “the beginning of the end” of the Russian-led trade. But he toned down the criticism during a meeting of the prime ministers of EEU member states in Kyrgyzstan on August 7.
Pashinian remained careful not to lambaste Moscow when he addressed via video link another meeting of EEU premiers held in Minsk. Without mentioning Russia by name, he pointed to lingering “restrictions and administrative barriers” to the movement of goods in the common market of five ex-Soviet states.
“In this regard, we consider it important to continue a constructive dialogue aimed at removing existing obstacles to the export and transit of Armenian products in accordance with EEU law,” he said. “I believe that consistent progress in this direction serves the interests of all EEU member states.”
Putin and Pashinian publicly sparred on the referendum issue during their September 1 talks held in Kyrgyzstan. The two leaders are expected to meet again in Moscow soon.
“We, of course, very much hope that Armenia will continue to work constructively with the other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told Vesti.ru on Friday.
Other Russian officials have warned in recent weeks of further economic sanctions against Yerevan, notably the end of a significant discount on the price of Russian natural gas supplied to Armenia.