YEREVAN. – I am astonished at people saying that Russia forced us to enter the Customs Union (CU). It was apparent to everyone that entering the Customs Union was the only way to keep power.  

Non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party National Assembly (PAP NA) Faction member Lyova Khachatryan stated the aforementioned at a press conference on Thursday. 

The PAP NA deputy reflected on President Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to have Armenia join the Russian-led Customs Union.

“What do we [i.e., Armenia] represent [in ourselves] that they would have forced us [to join the CU]. We are neither a consumer nor an exporter; we are just a state with a small territory,” Khachatryan stated.

Following the talks that were held on September 3, 2013 in Moscow between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. And the road map for Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union was recently introduced. Aside from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan likewise are members in the Customs Union.