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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday that a referendum on Armenia's accession to the European Union (EU) would be possible only after Yerevan submits an official application to join the bloc.
"Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized that holding a referendum is practically possible only after Armenia submits an official application to the European Union for EU membership and makes the topic substantive," Pashinyan's office said after a phone call between the two leaders.
The statement said Pashinyan made the remarks in relation to the possibility of holding such a referendum in Armenia, a topic also mentioned in a joint statement adopted after a Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) leaders meeting in May.
Following the EAEU meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, on May 29, Putin and the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan said in a joint statement that they shared the need for Armenia to hold a nationwide referendum on EU accession or continued EAEU membership "as soon as possible."
The EAEU was formed under a treaty signed in May 2014 that entered into force in January 2015.
Its members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. The economic union also includes four observer states: Cuba, Iran, Moldova and Uzbekistan.
Armenia has been a member of the EAEU since 2015.
However, Pashinyan's government has deepened ties with the EU and repeatedly declared its intention to pursue closer integration with Western institutions.
Russian officials have warned that such a course could jeopardize Armenia's participation in the Russian-led EAEU and lead to the loss of a range of economic preferences.
Pashinyan's office said the two leaders also exchanged views on Armenia-Russia relations, particularly problems emerging in bilateral economic ties.
Pashinyan said restrictions on exports of Armenian-origin goods to the Russian market contradicted the Armenia-Russia legal framework and EAEU regulations.
He asked Putin to take measures to resolve the issues, according to the statement.
"At the same time, Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the readiness of the Government of the Republic of Armenia to resolve the aforementioned issues through open, partnership-based and friendly dialogue," the statement said.
In a separate statement, the Kremlin said Putin reaffirmed his commitment to the EAEU joint statement adopted in May.
"It was notably emphasised that Armenia needed to promptly hold a national referendum on whether the country should join the EU or remain in the EAEU," the Kremlin readout said.
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