Armenia will pay very high price for European integration – Aslan Rubaev

Speaking with Alpha News, political scientist Aslan Rubaev commented on reports that Armenian authorities will intensify their efforts to join the European Union if the ruling Civil Contract party wins the 2026 parliamentary elections.

“Pashinyan has set a course toward European integration in every sense of the word. Of course, his statement about reconsidering and reformatting relations with Russia suggests only one thing: these relations will deteriorate. Knowing Pashinyan, seeing his rhetoric and intentions, he will in no way be guided by Armenia’s interests; he will be guided by the tasks facing him,” Rubaev said.

According to the political scientist, Armenia will end up in the hands of Western politicians, who will use it as a bargaining chip.

“This is a one-way ticket—a rupture in Armenian-Russian relations and a great tragedy for Armenia. Armenia will pay a very high price for European integration, just as its neighbors have. Unfortunately, Armenia will face another war, one in which Russia will no longer be able to defend it, either legally or otherwise, because Armenia will fall into the hands of Western politicians who will use it as a bargaining chip, creating another anti-Russian zone of influence, like they did with Georgia or now with Ukraine. This is not very good for Armenia itself and does not bode well for it,” Rubaev concluded.