Beirut: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday informed Russian President Vladimir Putin that a referendum regarding Armenia's accession to the European Union can be considered only after Yerevan officially applies for EU membership.

According to Anadolu Agency, a statement from Pashinyan's office highlighted that the Prime Minister's remarks were made during a phone conversation with President Putin. The statement emphasized that the referendum is feasible only after Armenia submits an official application to the EU, making the topic substantial. This conversation revolved around the idea of conducting such a referendum in Armenia, as mentioned in a joint statement following a Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) leaders meeting in May.

After the EAEU meeting held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on May 29, leaders, including the Russian President and the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, expressed the necessity of conducting a nationwide referendum in Armenia on whether to pursue EU accession or continue EAEU membership "as soon as possible."

The EAEU, established through a treaty signed in May 2014 and effective from January 2015, includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia as members, along with four observer states: Cuba, Iran, Moldova, and Uzbekistan. Although Armenia has been part of the EAEU since 2015, Pashinyan's administration has strengthened ties with the EU, consistently expressing a desire for closer integration with Western institutions.

Conversely, Russian officials have cautioned that pursuing such integration could risk Armenia's involvement in the EAEU and lead to losing certain economic benefits.

The phone call statement further mentioned discussions on Armenia-Russia relations, specifically focusing on challenges in bilateral economic relations. Pashinyan stressed that restrictions on exporting Armenian goods to the Russian market contradict the Armenia-Russia legal framework and EAEU regulations, requesting measures to address these issues.

Pashinyan also conveyed Armenia's readiness to resolve these matters through open, partnership-based, and friendly dialogue. Meanwhile, a separate Kremlin statement confirmed Putin's commitment to the EAEU joint statement from May, emphasizing the need for Armenia to swiftly hold a national referendum on EU accession or remaining in the EAEU.