Armenian MP: Russia continues to push for referendum on EAEU membership

Russia continues to encourage Armenia to hold a referendum on its potential withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), despite apparent resistance from the Armenian authorities, opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan said on Tuesday.

Abrahamyan, a member of the Pativ Unem faction, noted that Moscow recently signaled that discussions over Armenia's future in the Russian-led economic bloc would intensify later this year.

"Russia, through the Kremlin spokesman, has effectively set a deadline on the issue of Armenia's possible exit from the EAEU, stating that the matter will be discussed in December," he wrote on Facebook.

The MP argued that Russian officials have continued to promote the idea of a referendum on the issue, even as Armenia's government appears unwilling to pursue such a vote.

"I do not know who advised Moscow to shift the discussion into the realm of a referendum, but it is clearly a way of buying time," Abrahamyan said.

The opposition lawmaker also criticized recent bans on imports of Armenian products into Russia, saying they have disproportionately affected ordinary citizens.

"So far, Russia's warning measures and restrictions have created difficulties primarily for the public, which is unacceptable," he said.

"Citizens should not suffer because of the failures of those responsible for Armenian-Russian relations or the Armenian government's adventurous policies," he said. "Such actions have only deepened tensions in what are already strained bilateral relations."