01:12, 21 January 2026

Lavrov reminded Armenia of the need to choose between the EU and the EAEU

Armenia will not be able to simultaneously adhere to EU standards and remain a full member of the Eurasian Economic Union. EU standards imply joining anti-Russian sanctions, the Russian Foreign Minister stated.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, the Armenian government supported the idea of holding a referendum on joining the EU, but Pashinyan urged against hasty steps. The Russian presidential press secretary recalled that it will not be possible to be a member of both the EU and the EAEU.

In December 2025, Armenia and the EU signed a strategic partnership agenda. The country agreed to develop relations with the bloc in the areas of democracy and the rule of law, justice reform, human rights, and socio-economic development. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas announced that the European Union will allocate €15 million to strengthen Armenia's resilience ahead of the country's parliamentary elections, which will be held in June 2026. EU High Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos previously stated that the strategic partnership agenda includes support that promotes Armenia's economic development and strengthens its institutions. The new partnership agenda will also include defense and security cooperation, according to Armenpress.

Transitioning to EU standards while remaining a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is technically impossible. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated this at a press conference summarizing Russia's diplomatic activities in 2025, commenting on Armenia's aspirations for European integration, TASS reported on January 20.

Sergey Lavrov also reported that he discussed this issue with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during his visit to Yerevan. The Russian Foreign Minister noted that membership in the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union is incompatible due to different trade and investment regulations, as well as Brussels' desire to transform Armenia's legal framework into EU standards, Kommersant reported.

"I'm not even mentioning that these standards imply, as I said in the case of Serbia, full adherence to the European Union's foreign policy, which also means joining anti-Russian sanctions, anti-Russian statements, and so on," Lavrov said.

According to Lavrov, visa liberalization is being offered to Armenians, but it is conditioned on the fact that the European Union must have a voice in resolving issues in law enforcement and border protection. It is clear that our border guards are stationed in Armenia. The question of how this fits with Yerevan's current commitments is already being raised, he noted.

Armenia and the European Union announced the launch of a visa liberalization dialogue with the EU in September 2024. Armenia is the only state with which the EU is pursuing visa liberalization.

"Movement toward EU membership, of course, cannot be compatible with maintaining membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. And if Armenia makes the appropriate decisions, this is the right of Armenia and the Armenian people," Lavrov concluded.

It should be noted that in August 2024, the Armenian government decided to provide its citizens with ID cards and biometric passports in a new format. The French consortium IDEMIA Identity Security France and A.C.I. Technology S.à.r.l., which won the tender, is creating the necessary infrastructure.

In April 2025, an agreement was signed in Armenia with HAYPASS, a company created by this consortium. The company will be directly responsible for implementing the biometric passport and ID card system in Armenia. Their issuance will begin in the second half of 2026, Novosti-Armenia reported.

Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/420099