Russia notified of Pashinyan's decision not to participate in the EAEU leaders' meeting
21.05.2026,
15:11
Russia has received official notification from Armenia regarding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's non-participation in the EAEU leaders' meeting, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.
YEREVAN, May 21. /ARKA/. Russia has received official notification from Armenia regarding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's non-participation in the EAEU leaders' meeting, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.
"Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan will represent Armenia. Similar situations, where representatives of member states not only from Armenia but also from other countries, for one reason or another, did not participate in the work of EAEU bodies, have occurred before," Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday.
According to her, this is undesirable, but it is happening.
"The problem is somewhat different: it is already turning into a system, which, as we understand it, Nikol Vovaevich Pashinyan has created within this structure," Zakharova said.
She recalled that, according to established rules, members of the Supreme Eurasian Intergovernmental Economic Council must participate in its meetings.
"Of course, there's no tragedy for the union itself; the issue is only with Armenia itself. We prefer to judge by the concrete practical steps the Armenian government has taken to implement a pro-European policy and their impact on Eurasian integration processes," Zakharova said.
On the Russian side, it has initially stated that it is impossible to combine membership in the EAEU with the implementation of supranational regulatory mechanisms of another integration bloc. This has been stated repeatedly and at various levels, including by the President and Vice Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.
"And there is a specific reason for this. EU structures are pursuing a destructive policy of illegal sanctions against countries that are members of the EAEU. This would directly contradict each other, not because we are against it or adhere to the either-or principle," Zakharova said.
She noted that the Russian side has always maintained that cooperation in all areas can be organically combined.
"And they maintained this until one of the areas—Western Europe—began to directly attack the economy, trade, and finances in the form of illegal, illegitimate sanctions, when it all turned into a hybrid war, including in the trade dimension," Zakharova said.
The next meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and the Eurasian Economic Forum will be held in Astana on May 28-29. The events will be attended by the heads of state of the EAEU member states, observer states, and invited distinguished guests.
"Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan will represent Armenia. Similar situations, where representatives of member states not only from Armenia but also from other countries, for one reason or another, did not participate in the work of EAEU bodies, have occurred before," Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday.
According to her, this is undesirable, but it is happening.
"The problem is somewhat different: it is already turning into a system, which, as we understand it, Nikol Vovaevich Pashinyan has created within this structure," Zakharova said.
She recalled that, according to established rules, members of the Supreme Eurasian Intergovernmental Economic Council must participate in its meetings.
"Of course, there's no tragedy for the union itself; the issue is only with Armenia itself. We prefer to judge by the concrete practical steps the Armenian government has taken to implement a pro-European policy and their impact on Eurasian integration processes," Zakharova said.
On the Russian side, it has initially stated that it is impossible to combine membership in the EAEU with the implementation of supranational regulatory mechanisms of another integration bloc. This has been stated repeatedly and at various levels, including by the President and Vice Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.
"And there is a specific reason for this. EU structures are pursuing a destructive policy of illegal sanctions against countries that are members of the EAEU. This would directly contradict each other, not because we are against it or adhere to the either-or principle," Zakharova said.
She noted that the Russian side has always maintained that cooperation in all areas can be organically combined.
"And they maintained this until one of the areas—Western Europe—began to directly attack the economy, trade, and finances in the form of illegal, illegitimate sanctions, when it all turned into a hybrid war, including in the trade dimension," Zakharova said.
The next meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and the Eurasian Economic Forum will be held in Astana on May 28-29. The events will be attended by the heads of state of the EAEU member states, observer states, and invited distinguished guests.
