Armenian president’s U-turn was not a free choice, Michael Kambeck of the European Friends of Armenia said.

His comments came in response to Serzh Sargsyan’s remarks about Armenia’s joining the Customs Union.

Kambeck urged the EU to “find a new modus operandi with Armenia, which visibly wants to cooperate closely with the EU but apparently is restricted by a third country”, EuropeanVoice.com reported.

The statement issued by presidents of Armenia and Russia on Tuesday said Armenia has an intention to join the Customs Union and participate in formation of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Armenia has completed technical talks on free trade area deal in July and had to sign the agreement during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius this November.

Armenia’s decision came two days before the G20 summit which will take place in Saint Petersburg on September 5-6 and followed the trade dispute between Russia and Ukraine.