Question of whether Armenia will remain in EAEU could become relevant – Sergey Stankevich

Speaking with Alpha News, political scientist Sergey Stankevich commented on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Armenia’s withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is not an objective, but joining the European Union is.

“The prospect of joining the European Union is not currently in sight for Armenia. But the question of whether it will remain in the Eurasian Economic Union could become relevant if these kinds of moves—perhaps not overtly but with a hidden, clearly visible hostility—truly become systemic. For now, they are demonstrating, at a minimum, disdain for both Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union. Membership in the CSTO has long been frozen—all of this combined creates a zone of uncertainty that’s not indefinite, and freedom of choice in these matters exists not only for Yerevan but also for other members of such associations: they too have the right to choose,” Stankevich said.

Speaking about the potential consequences of Armenia leaving the EAEU, the expert noted that losses would be considerable.

“Armenia will lose significantly in trade and economic ties overall, and further calculations will need to be made more carefully. No one has yet conducted such calculations, as the issue hasn’t yet been addressed in practical terms,” Stankevich concluded.