Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused political groups in Russia and Armenia of trying to destabilize Armenia and weaken its independence, citing Russian trade restrictions and pressure over Armenia’s place in a trade bloc led by Moscow.
At an October 22 press briefing, he responded to a report about the effects of suspending Armenia from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), whose members include Russia. The report says Armenia’s efforts to join the European Union conflict with EAEU rules and discusses suspending Armenia unless it holds a referendum on EU membership. It also warns of severe economic costs, including a possible decline of more than 15 percent in economic output.
Russia has restricted imports of Armenian products, including agricultural goods, citing food-safety and plant-health concerns. Yerevan says the restrictions conflict with trade rules. Pashinyan said the restrictions had not produced the economic or political results their supporters wanted.
He argued that groups inside and outside Armenia hoped to use the dispute to cause unrest inside the country. He called the situation a “third attempt” to take control of Armenia. He alleged that earlier efforts coincided with the 2023 departure of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh.
He also alleged that those efforts coincided with Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary election. Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan rejected the report’s economic forecast as exaggerated. Pashinyan said the country could withstand the pressure.
Russian officials had not immediately responded to his accusations, according to reporting on the briefing.