Overchuk pointed out the necessity for Armenia to choose between the EU and the EAEU

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union (EU) are incompatible, so the law on European integration, which Armenia is considering, forces this state to make a choice. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said on January 9.

"Both unions assume the absence of customs borders and freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and labor. It is impossible to imagine that these two unions will converge at some point. Therefore, the draft law being considered in the Republic of Armenia <...> puts this country in front of a choice," Overchuk said, whose commentary is quoted by the press service of the Russian government.

He drew attention to the fact that in case of Armenia's decision to refuse cooperation with the EAEU, prices for food and electricity will rise in the country, and its exports will be reduced by 70-80%. The population of the state will lose their incomes and jobs, and will have to spend more money on the most necessary things. In return, Armenia will get a visa-free regime with the EU countries, which will lead to the reduction of the country's population due to their departure to Europe.

Overchuk emphasized that membership in the EAEU is a privilege that is becoming more and more obvious. Moreover, the EU is facing so many problems that joining it can be compared to buying a ticket to the Titanic, but people are starting to gradually realize it only now.

The Deputy Head of the Government noted that if the authors of the draft law on European integration were honest with the people of Armenia and the EAEU member states, they would have specified in their initiative that Yerevan would leave the Eurasian Union as soon as the law on joining the EU enters into force. However, they did not specify this, which means that they themselves are aware of the consequences of leaving the EAEU for the state.

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Earlier in the day, the Armenian government approved a draft law on starting the process of the state's accession to the European Union. Prime Minister of the Transcaucasian republic Nikol Pashinyan specified that after the adoption of the initiative, Yerevan should develop a corresponding road map with Brussels.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out on the same day that it is hypothetically impossible to combine membership in the EU and the EAEU because the two associations are significantly different. Besides, cooperation in the EAEU is beneficial for Yerevan.

Ruslan Andreev, an expert of the Polylog Group and political consultant, pointed out in a conversation with Izvestia that the Armenian government supports the course of European integration only in its personal political interests in order to "demonstrate its strength and victory". The country will never be accepted into the EU, particularly because of its geographical location.

In April 2024, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova pointed out that the West is only using the republic to "fuel the fire" in the Caucasus. For his part, Armenian Ambassador to the EU Tigran Balayan pointed out that Yerevan's foreign policy turn towards rapprochement with the EU does not threaten Russia's interests in the Transcaucasus.