Experts will study by December the economic and legal consequences that may arise in the event of termination of Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an exclusive interview with RTVI.

Galuzin stated this in response to the question of how Armenia's membership in the EAEU could be terminated, since the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union does not provide for the removal of member states if they themselves do not want to leave the EAEU.

Mikhail Galuzin recalled that recently “a joint statement was adopted by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, which clearly states that the beginning of the process of Armenia’s membership in the European Union and the plans of the current leadership of Armenia to join the EU create absolutely concrete risks for the economic security of other (except Armenia) members of our Eurasian integration union.”

“The four leaders have instructed to prepare a report on the consequences of a possible termination of Armenia’s participation in the Eurasian Economic Union. So, I am convinced that experts will study both the economic and legal aspects. So let’s wait for the results of the specialists’ work,” the Russian deputy foreign minister told RTVI.

According to him, “the situation when Armenia legislates its so-called European aspirations, while at the same time continuing to enjoy all the benefits and advantages of membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, is unacceptable” for other members of the EAEU.

“I noted above that the report will be worked on from both an economic and legal perspective. I simply would not like to get ahead and talk about the content of the report,” Mikhail Galuzin replied in response to a clarifying question about how, in terms of procedure, Armenia’s membership in the EAEU could be terminated, since the EAEU treaty does not provide for the suspension or termination of a country’s membership unless it itself wishes to leave the union.

The Russian deputy foreign minister stated that Armenia has legislatively codified the start of the country’s EU membership process, and membership in that organization is “both politically and economically incompatible” with membership in the EAEU.

“What else do we and you need to record that Armenia’s membership process in the European Union has begun? A special law has been adopted on this subject. And I do not see any other comment here,” Mikhail Galuzin noted.