Putin "instructed" the Armenian opposition to initiate a referendum.
28-07-2026 11:20 Politics
1in.am On July 27, a phone conversation took place between Pashinyan and Putin. It can be said with a high degree of confidence that it does not hint at any positive shift or possibility for the Armenia-Russia relations. It is enough to compare the official information released by both sides regarding the phone conversation to confirm that contact has occurred after a four-month hiatus, but the positions of Moscow and Yerevan have not changed.
«The interlocutors exchanged views on the agenda of Armenia-Russia relations, particularly regarding the issues that have arisen in bilateral economic relations. Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized that the restrictions on the export of Armenian-origin goods to the Russian market contradict the legal framework of Armenia-Russia relations and the regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union, and requested measures to address these issues,» the text of the Armenian government’s statement reads.
The information released by Russia first emphasized that the phone conversation «was initiated by the Armenian side,» and then referred to the «necessity of holding a nationwide referendum on joining the EU or remaining in the EAEU in due time in Armenia.» Additionally, it was highlighted that «Vladimir Putin confirmed the commitment to the statement adopted at the EAEU summit regarding Armenia's actions towards joining the European Union...».
The newly elected parliament of Armenia will assume its powers in a few days, and a new government will be formed that must present a program for its activities for the next five years. In this situation, Vladimir Putin did not congratulate Nikol Pashinyan, did not wish success to the Armenian government, and did not express any willingness regarding the development and deepening of bilateral relations. Only Nikol Pashinyan spoke about this.
After June 7, Armenia's pro-Russian opposition found itself in a very difficult situation. The harsh, uncompromising tone of the phone conversation with Prime Minister Pashinyan is perhaps a signal for the opposition to once again «set a high bar» from the very first sessions of parliament and try to restore the trust of the electorate. It can be assumed that the issue of relations with Russia will be the opposition's main «trump card.»
It is not excluded that the opposition may initiate a process to hold a referendum on whether to remain in the EAEU. In the phone conversation with Putin, Pashinyan again conditioned this possibility on submitting an application for EU membership. Russia «demands to make a decision as quickly as possible.» The opposition will likely accept this as a «directive.» To legalize the initiative for a referendum, it is necessary to have the signatures of 300,000 voters.
It is very likely that Putin is not so much interested in whether Armenia remains in the EAEU, but rather in the question of the possibility of «annulling» the results of the June 7 election in some way. He may think that the «cold shower» from the President of Kazakhstan in Omsk can be compensated with a «hot autumn» in Yerevan.
* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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