---
title: "Pashinyan responds to Putin: referendum on EU accession possible only after application submission"
description: "Pashinyan responds to Putin's demand for a referendum: voting is possible only after an official application to join the EU. Additionally, the Prime Minister criticized Russia's trade restrictions, calling them a violation of EAEU rules. 🇦🇲🇪🇺🇷🇺"
date: 2026-07-28T02:10:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pashinyan-responds-to-putin-referendum-on-eu-accession-possible-only-after-application-submission
tags: [nikol-pashinyan, vladimir-putin, armenia, russia, european-union]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Pashinyan responds to Putin: referendum on EU accession possible only after application submission

![Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during an official statement, with the Armenian flag in the background, discussing the referendum on EU accession](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/28/pashinyan-otvetil-putinu-referendum-o-vsstuplenii-v-es-vozmozhno-tolko-posle-podachi-zayavki/pashinyan-otvetil-putinu-referendum-o-vsstuplenii-v-es-vozmozhno-tolko-posle-podachi-zayavki-1.webp)

During a telephone conversation held on July 27, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed current issues in bilateral relations. This marked the first contact between the leaders following the parliamentary elections in Armenia held in June. According to Armenian “Radio Liberty,” the discussion went beyond the standard diplomatic agenda and touched upon fundamental questions regarding Yerevan’s geopolitical course.

### Debate on the referendum and the European Union

A key point of the negotiations was the discussion of a possible referendum in Armenia on joining the European Union. The Kremlin reported that Vladimir Putin emphasized to the Armenian Prime Minister the need to hold the vote as soon as possible to determine the country’s future within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or in the direction of integration with the EU.

However, Yerevan’s position turned out to be fundamentally different. The Armenian government press service clarified the details of Pashinyan’s response. The Prime Minister stated that holding a referendum is possible, but only on the condition that the country officially submits an application to join the European Union. Thus, Pashinyan made the holding of the vote dependent on the start of formal EU integration procedures.

### Trade restrictions and treaty violations

In addition to strategic course issues, the conversation touched upon economic problems. Pashinyan called on Moscow to take measures to lift restrictions on the import of Armenian products. According to the head of the government, the restrictions introduced by Russia contradict both bilateral agreements and the rules of the functioning of the EAEU. Yerevan insists on compliance with agreements within the union.

### Cold reception of the election victory

The media also notes a diplomatic nuance that may indicate a cooling of relations: Russia officially did not congratulate Nikol Pashinyan on his victory in the parliamentary elections. The absence of congratulations from Moscow against the backdrop of harsh rhetoric during the telephone conversation highlights the tension in the dialogue between the two countries.