Pashinyan will ask Putin to remain in EAEU: Oleg Makarenko

Political analyst Oleg Makarenko commented to Alpha News on the upcoming meeting between Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, and Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia.

“Of course, Pashinyan would like to remain in the EAEU. Because this is an interest of an economic nature, not a political one. Because his patrons, in effect, are tasking him with building a state that is unfriendly, that is hostile to the Russian Federation. But he doesn’t want to lose the economic preferences. He’d like to stay in it. But the question is stark: either you’re with Europe in the European Union, or you’re in the EAEU. And so Pashinyan has only one request — to remain in the EAEU. That’s the only thing he’ll bring to the President of the Russian Federation. But will Russia agree to that? I’d like to see it set firm conditions: either-or. And that will be the main issue discussed at this meeting, besides questions of security concerning the Russian base located in Alexandropol (Gyumri),” the expert believes.

The Alpha News source emphasized that Pashinyan’s ties to the European Union have reached the point where Armenia’s Prime Minister has no room to contradict EU officials.

“At this point, Armenia cannot turn back from its intended path toward the European Union. Because the leadership, in effect, reflects the EU’s position in its politics. And it has become deeply, seriously entangled in it. He has no interest in the Russian Federation. Under current conditions, he considers it uninteresting for him. All this Soros-style struggle in every formerly pro-Russian country has existed and will continue to exist. Pashinyan has gotten too deeply drawn into this situation. He can no longer escape the EU — it’s as if he’s been caught in a spider’s web, and he can’t get out of that web anymore. Especially since he himself doesn’t want to get out. It’s no longer possible,” Makarenko concluded.