The Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Saturday that the Russian Ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopyrkin, has been recalled to Moscow for consultations, as reported by Russian media, according to UNN.
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The Russian Foreign Ministry linked this to "steps by the Armenian leadership toward rapprochement with the European Union, which cause damage to interaction within the EAEU."
As indicated by DW, on the eve of this, the leaders of the EAEU member states issued a joint statement demanding that Armenia hold a referendum to choose between joining the European Union and maintaining membership in this organization. Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan claim that Yerevan's preparations for EU accession create "significant risks for the economic security of the EAEU member states." The statement was adopted at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana, where Armenia was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.
On the same day, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin threatened that if Armenia leaves the EAEU, tariffs on energy resources and rail transport would be raised for the country. Furthermore, according to Putin, Armenian citizens would have to obtain work patents in Russia. Putin simultaneously drew parallels with Ukraine.
Russia is increasing pressure on Armenia. Rosselkhoznadzor has already banned the import of several Armenian products—mineral water, vegetables, and cognac—while the Russian Ministry of Energy is threatening to terminate the agreement on duty-free supplies of petroleum products, natural gas, and rough diamonds to Armenia.
Parliamentary elections will be held in Armenia on June 7. The focus of observers in Yerevan now is whether pro-Russian candidates will be allowed to vote or if they will be barred from participating in the elections, as previously happened in Moldova. Reuters, citing sources in Western intelligence services, reported that the Kremlin plans to send up to 100,000 Armenians living in Russia to the elections in Armenia to ensure the defeat of the current Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.
U.S. President Donald Trump supported Pashinyan on the eve of the elections, calling him his "great friend and an outstanding leader" who is "making his country strong, prosperous, and extremely safe." On May 26, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Yerevan. He signed an agreement with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on cooperation regarding the "Trump Route," as well as several other partnership documents between the two countries.