Kathrine Frich
They have to pick a side.
When a smaller nation looks toward new alliances, its old partners rarely let go without a fight.
One country now finds itself caught between an old military ally and the promise of a Western future.
A strict deadline
Russian officials have handed Armenia a clear timeline to pick a side. Moscow expects the Armenian government to hold a referendum by December to choose between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Mikhail Galuzin, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, outlined the demand to state media. According to The Moscow Times cited by Digi24, the Kremlin is preparing further actions if the deadline is ignored.
Galuzin promised consequences. He stated, “If by then the call for a referendum is not heeded, the leaders will take this into account.”
Waiting for Europe
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan views the situation differently. Rushing a public vote right now makes no sense, he argues.
He insists a referendum should only happen after the nation secures official EU candidate status. Without that clear guarantee, voters would have to choose between their current economy and a purely theoretical option.
Moscow rejected this delay. Galuzin asked, “Are you prepared to give up EAEU membership for the, not entirely certain, prospect of joining the EU in the future?”
Unpaid military bills
The economic ultimatum arrives alongside a fierce military dispute. Russia is demanding that Armenia resume paying its fees to the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
Armenia froze its participation in the alliance in February 2024. By May, the government halted its financial contributions entirely. Yerevan made this move because the security bloc failed to provide support during their conflict with Azerbaijan.
According to TASS, member states will meet in Moscow on November 11. They could vote to strip Armenia of its remaining rights over the missing funds.
Fading historic ties
Diplomatic ties have frayed rapidly this year. Following a tense conversation about democracy in April, Russian authorities blocked imports of several Armenian products.
Things worsened in May. Pashinyan skipped the Victory Day parade in Moscow. He openly stated that he did not support the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
The Kremlin responded bluntly. President Vladimir Putin urged the Armenian government to decide its path quickly, pointedly warning them to remember the fate of Ukraine.
Sources: TASS, The Moscow Times, Digi24
