Armenia’s authorities should first find out through a referendum the approach of their citizens to the country's membership in the European Union (EU) and only then send an official application to Brussels. Such an opinion was expressed on Monday by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin.

“Logic suggests that first a referendum should be held and the people [of Armenia] should be asked, and then an official application should be submitted to Brussels, and not the other way around, as the leadership of Armenia has been publicly claiming in recent times,” the Russian diplomat told TASS.

Pankin noted that the aspiration of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government for European integration has created a contradictory situation. In his assessment, the economic advantages that Yerevan receives due to membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are being used to promote the idea of joining another union.

The Russian deputy foreign minister emphasized that holding a nationwide vote would comply with the constitutional order for determining Armenia's future integration path. At the same time, he expressed concern that after submitting an application for EU membership, the opinion of Armenia’s citizens would no longer be taken into account.

Also, the Russian diplomat recalled the report on the possible consequences of terminating the EAEU Treaty for Armenia. According to him, such a scenario is considered exclusively as an extreme measure to protect the economic security of other participants in the union.