The EAEU can protect the interests of its other members if Armenia withdraws, says Russian Foreign Ministry

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has international legal tools to defend the interests of its member states in case Armenia breaches the union’s treaty, Mikael Agasandyan, Head of the First Department for CIS Countries at Russia’s Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti.

“If Yerevan takes steps that contradict the EAEU legislation, in other words, significantly violate the treaty on the EAEU—which, we hope, will not happen—we have the necessary international legal mechanisms to protect the interests of the other member states,” Agasandyan stated.

He added that Armenia has never publicly announced, nor during bilateral discussions, expressed intentions to withdraw from the treaty. On the contrary, Armenia actively participates in negotiations within the union framework, confirming its interest in the development of Eurasian integration.

According to Agasandyan, the EU cannot compensate Armenia for the inevitable losses to its economy if it leaves the EAEU.

He explained that the Russian side clarifies during contacts with Armenian partners that simultaneous membership in both the EAEU and the EU is impossible due to incompatible standards. However, Yerevan understands both the advantages of membership in the EAEU and the consequences of leaving it.

Agasandyan noted that the law adopted in Armenia regarding the start of the accession process to the EU does not yet imply actions that would cast doubt on the country’s membership in the EAEU.

“It is clear that at a certain stage of rapprochement, Brussels’ demands—an inevitable part of the ‘European path’—will conflict with Yerevan’s obligations within the Union. We are talking about areas such as customs, customs-tariff and technical regulation, trade policy, sanitary and phytosanitary measures—essentially, our common market, which significantly contributes to economic growth and the well-being of the country’s population,” he concluded.