"Hraparak" writes: After returning from the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, Nikol Pashinyan, as a matter of fact, could not hide from the team the highly intolerant attitude of official Moscow towards their government and the dangerous developments that await them in the coming months in the form of Russian sanctions.
Perhaps this is the reason for the alarming moods in the ruling team, at least in the ranks of pro-Russian or neutral deputies, who have begun to criticize Pashinyan's short-sighted steps in private conversations and conduct these conversations in the so-called pro-Western part of the ruling faction, under whose patronage the Soros NGOs forced Pashinyan to accept the stillborn, non-working draft law on EU membership, which the parliamentary majority adopted last year. although it is declarative and does not envisage actions, it filled the cup of Russia's patience and was perceived as a challenge addressed to them, and as a clear proof that the RA authorities are implementing an anti-Russian policy.
And the process started with the infamous Statute of Rome, which did nothing for Armenia, except for the escalation of contradictions with Russia. As a result of these short-sighted actions, Armenia has reached a point that can lead to economic collapse. The restrictions on the volumes of goods imported from our country are only flowers.
We previously wrote that Russia will further aggravate the situation in the near future, strengthen the sanctions, the CP is talking with horror about the prospect of "deporting" about 500,000 Armenian rioters to Armenia. CP was informed through diplomatic channels and Pashinyan's close circle that after the economic sanctions, it will be the turn of the migrants. To punish Pashinyan, they want to expel all those Armenians who have illegal status in Russia. The CP members understand that at that time their case will be complicated, and it may even lead to a social riot. There is also talk of closing the airspace, limiting flights to Armenia, etc.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin announced all that yesterday. "The EAEU expects that Armenia will hold the referendum by December," he told TASS. "It is obvious that if the call to hold a referendum is not heeded in Yerevan by December, the EAEU leaders will take that fact into account when clarifying future joint steps," the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said. "It is at that session that a report will be presented to the heads of state on the possible consequences of the termination of Armenia's participation in the treaty signed on May 29, 2014," Galuzin said.
The Russian diplomat also noted how the question put to a possible referendum should be formulated. "It should not be an abstract-theoretical formulation (do you want to join the EU or not), but a clear and practical one: "Are you ready to give up EAEU membership for the sake of the less obvious prospect of joining the EU," Galuzin noted, adding. "Such a wording of the question will be the most honest to both the citizens of the Republic of Armenia and the other EAEU members."
However, the problem is that, as we mentioned, Armenia not only did not submit an application for EU membership, but it is not going to do something like that in the near future, because the EU said in a direct text that they are not waiting for us in the West. On August 7, both at the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and in the conversation with the Russian media after the session, Pashinyan also spoke about this, that holding a referendum on the issue of EU membership in Armenia would be meaningless.
"It will mean that we expect the citizens of Armenia to make a choice between two alternatives, one of which does not exist. It will be disrespectful to our people and, in practice, illegitimate." However, Galuzin also stated that the issue of depriving Armenia of the right to vote in the CSTO can be discussed at the summit scheduled for November 11. "Any decision regarding the possible application of restrictive measures against one of the organization's members falls entirely within the jurisdiction of the Collective Security Council (which includes the leaders of the CSTO member states), which has the right to make such decisions based on the provisions of the organization's charter," he said. Galuzin, noting that "the next meeting of the council will be held in Moscow on November 11".
That dawns are not peaceful in the ruling team, it became clear yesterday from the speech of the CP deputy Sargis Khandanyan. He hastened to announce that Nikol Pashinyan, while presenting the government's program in the National Assembly, will announce that Armenia wants to remain a member of the EAEU, which will also be fixed in the government's program, but there is no return to the CSTO.
And according to the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, the CSTO Charter is an international agreement that must be fulfilled by all parties in good faith. Galuzin noted that Yerevan's non-participation in the activities of the organization and non-signing of the annual decisions on the CSTO budget do not stop Armenia's obligation to timely transfer the national contribution aimed at financing the organization's activities. In other words, it is not legal to not pay membership fees in Armenia. "Any international organization has procedures for this situation, as stated in its founding documents. CSTO is not an exception."
To remind: Yerevan has been boycotting the work in the military alliance for the fourth year already and does not pay its due membership fee. After the Azerbaijani attack on Armenia in 2022, when the CSTO not only did not provide assistance to Armenia, but also did not give a political assessment to the occupation of the Armenian territories, official Yerevan stopped participating in the work of the CSTO, gave up its quota of deputy secretary general. Already in February 2024, membership in the alliance was frozen, and the Armenian side also stopped paying the membership fee.
