YEREVAN. – Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union was made as a result of huge pressure from Russia, member of Karabakh committee Ashot Manucharyan believes.

Manucharyan noted that Armenia had been holding serious negotiations with Europe for over three years and had been talking about European values, and then everything changed in a while.

“All these facts prove that Armenian authorities were pressed. In fact, the Customs Union is not an economic union, but a political and military and political alliance,” he told reporters.

The member of Karabakh committee said Russia’s pressure on Armenia was unexpected for the authorities, but not a surprise for the U.S., since the Armenian government machine is under American influence.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am