Belarusian MP threatens Armenia with expulsion from EAEU over EU membership bid

January 14, Pozirk. Siarhiej Račkoŭ, an MP in charge of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, said that Armenia would have to pull out of the Russian-led economic alliance if it pursues a European Union membership bid.

The comment that he made yesterday to news.by refers to the recent approval of a bill by the Armenian government to launch the country’s EU accession process.

Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan, however, yesterday denied plans to leave the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). 

“Armenia’s accession to the European Union will definitely lead to its departure from the Eurasian Economic Union,” especially if the process makes fast progress, said Račkoŭ, a former senior diplomat.

Yerevan’s termination of the Eurasian integration will significantly affect Armenia, which has benefited from the EAEU free trade agreement in the last 10 years, Račkoŭ claimed.

He said that Yerevan is under US influence and that if it pulls out of the EAEU, it will shoot itself in the head, not even in the leg.

Armenia has suspended its engagement with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), another Russia-led alliance, citing the bloc’s failure to address “external aggression at the borders of sovereign Armenia in 2021 and 2022.”  Last year, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that the CSTO posed a threat to Armenia’s existence, sovereignty and statehood.

Yerevan also has strained relations with Minsk. In June 2024, Pashinyan said that neither he nor any other Armenian official would travel to Belarus as long as Alaksandar Łukašenka was in power.

The head of the Armenian government said that in connection with Łukašenka’s remarks supportive of Azerbaijan made earlier that year at a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Also read: Armenian government moves to launch EU accession amid rift with Russia