EAEU considers suspending Armenia

The Russian>>>-led Eurasian Economic Union>>> (EAEU) is considering suspending Armenia>>> later this year due to its pursuit of European Union>>> membership, which the EAEU views as a risk to its economic security. Leaders of Russia>>>, Kazakhstan>>>, Belarus>>>, and Kyrgyzstan>>> issued a joint statement after a summit in Astana, calling on Armenia>>> to hold a referendum on its EU aspirations, including an option to remain in the EAEU. Russia>>> has been increasing economic pressure on Armenia>>>, imposing restrictions on agricultural imports and threatening to cut off cheap oil and gas supplies. Armenia>>>'s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan>>>, who is campaigning for a parliamentary election on June 7, has been steering the country closer to the West, a move Moscow deems incompatible with EAEU membership. Suspension from the EAEU would severely impact Armenia>>>'s economy, which relies heavily on Russia>>> for trade and energy.