{"id":190068,"date":"2026-06-01T13:37:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T10:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/190068\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T13:37:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T10:37:18","slug":"minsk-joins-moscow-in-campaign-to-suppress-armenias-european-aspirations","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/190068\/","title":{"rendered":"Minsk joins Moscow in campaign to suppress Armenia\u2019s European aspirations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has joined the Kremlin in its attempt to influence Armenia\u2019s parliamentary election, scheduled for June 7, in Russia\u2019s favor and oust pro-European Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n (emerging-europe.com, Belarusian and Russian leaders' websites \/ Pozirk's collage)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka cites Ukraine to warn Armenians against closer ties with Europe<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Armenians should be very careful in order, God forbid, not to repeat what has happened in Ukraine,\u201d the Belarusian ruler said after a Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Astana on May 29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka has often blamed Ukraine\u2019s political turbulence and the subsequent Russian full-scale invasion on Kyiv\u2019s European aspirations. His latest remarks therefore come as no surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier that day, the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia issued a statement urging Armenia to hold a referendum as soon as possible on whether to remain in the EAEU or pursue membership in the European Union (EU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian strongman, who has been accused by domestic and international observers of flagrantly violating the principles of free and fair elections throughout his rule, stressed that Armenia must organize the referendum in \u201can honest, open and democratic\u201d manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka said that Armenia\u2019s leadership and people must understand what they stand to gain or lose. He made it clear that Armenia would lose access to cheap Russian gas, noting that the country currently buys natural gas from Russia at $150\u2013$160 per 1,000 cubic meters, while European market prices range from $550\u2013$650 for the same volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian leader also accused Pashinyan of misleading the Armenian public when he promised to diversify the country\u2019s energy sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would like to know why he is lying to his people. What pipelines? From where would these pipelines run? Who would provide this gas, and how much would it cost?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At an election rally on May 27, Pashinyan said he pinned his hopes on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a US-brokered corridor expected to become a vital connectivity link between Europe and Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe TRIPP will open soon with a gas pipeline running through our country. We will receive gas for this transit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gas pipeline is expected to link Azerbaijan, T\u00fcrkiye and Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka has long been critical of Armenia\u2019s European aspirations. On one occasion, he claimed that nobody needs Armenia except the EAEU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin\u2019s warning to Armenia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian leader effectively echoed Vladimir Putin\u2019s warnings to Armenia. The Kremlin has said it could cut off supplies of gas, petroleum and uncut diamonds if Armenia turns its back on Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian president also hinted at possible military intervention, again citing Ukraine as an example. Like \u0141uka\u0161enka, he has argued that Ukraine\u2019s European aspirations were the real cause of its troubles, including Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither \u0141uka\u0161enka nor Putin appears willing to ask what right they have to pressure Armenia into urgently holding a referendum, or what right Russia has to invade another sovereign nation because it disagrees with its geopolitical choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yerevan sees clear benefits in European integration but also understands that the process will be long and difficult. That is why Armenia is not rushing to withdraw from the EAEU, whose membership still provides certain economic advantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mger Grigoryan, Armenia\u2019s deputy prime minister, told a Russian television channel during the Astana event that Yerevan would decide \u201cwhen asked directly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s strained relationship with Pashinyan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler has always viewed Pashinyan with suspicion after the Armenian leader came to power on the wave of street protests in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, Pashinyan was outraged that \u0141uka\u0161enka sold arms to Azerbaijan and later described Azerbaijan\u2019s capture of Nagorno-Karabakh as \u201ca liberation war.\u201d Belarus is formally a military ally of Armenia because both countries belong to the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After one particularly tense verbal exchange, the Armenian prime minister declared that he would never visit Belarus as long as it was governed by \u0141uka\u0161enka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, Armenia gave a warm reception to Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja, who attended a European summit in Yerevan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her visit to Armenia prompted an angry response from the Belarusian foreign ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armenia as an example<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian opposition is closely watching Armenia\u2019s gradual turn toward Europe and away from Russian dominance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yerevan has shown considerable ingenuity in defending its European choice against Moscow\u2019s pressure, combining firm political resolve with diplomatic flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus may face similar challenges in the future. Hopefully, neither Armenia nor Belarus will have to resort to military force to defend its choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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