The Armenian authorities want to use Russia for future membership in the European Union, and this is an exploitative attitude, said the speaker of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin.

"They [i.e. the Armenian authorities] are making statements that, ‘We want to remain in the EAEU, build relations with Russia.’ What kind of relations? Exploitative? To use our country to go through this phase and join the European Union. It's not honest," Volodin said in an interview with Vesti newscast.

He said that Russia helps Armenia and its residents. The Russian natural gas is four times cheaper for Armenia, and Russia is a sales market for that country, the State Duma speaker added.

"In that case, take [it] and refuse [it], and openly declare it to the citizens, and go to the European Union if that morality is closer to your heart," Vyacheslav Volodin noted addressing the Armenian authorities.