Armenia is currently reassessing its relationship with Russia, both in bilateral relations and within multilateral frameworks. This opinion was expressed by political analyst Ruben Mehrabyan.
Armenian-Russian Relations Are Effectively “Dead”
According to Mehrabyan, this reassessment reflects the fact that the foundations of the previous relationship have largely ceased to function.
He argued that although official Yerevan still questions the claim that Armenian-Russian relations are “dead,” reality itself no longer leaves room for doubt.
“As doctors in intensive care would say, biological death has already been confirmed,” he said, adding that many of the agreements signed between the two countries are no longer being implemented and have lost their practical value.
According to Mehrabyan, Russia is attempting to return Armenia to its previous foreign policy course by persuading Yerevan to abandon its European direction and acknowledge that Moscow’s earlier demands had been correct.
“Russia wants us to repeat September 3 once again, with Armenia’s leadership going to Moscow and admitting that the European course was a mistake. That will not happen anymore because it would amount to political suicide,” he said.
In his view, even those in Armenia who advocate restoring “traditional partnership” with Russia are proposing a path that would ultimately be destructive for the country.
The Break With the CSTO Has Already Taken Place
Commenting on discussions about suspending Armenia’s voting rights within the CSTO, Mehrabyan said the issue is no longer of fundamental importance because Armenia has effectively already left the organization.
He recalled that Armenia froze its participation in the CSTO in 2024 and stopped paying membership contributions, creating legal grounds for possible expulsion.
According to the political analyst, if Armenia loses its voting rights or such a decision is adopted at the November CSTO summit, it would not mark “the beginning of the end” of Armenia’s membership, as many claim, but rather its final conclusion.
“I believe many people in Armenia will open champagne after such a decision,” he said.
Mehrabyan argued that such an outcome would have positive rather than negative consequences because Armenia would also cease to be a CSTO member de jure, giving it greater freedom in foreign policy.
He added that Armenia’s current strategic partners cooperate very differently with a CSTO member than with a country outside the alliance.
“Strategic partnership with Armenia inside the CSTO and with Armenia free from the CSTO are two completely different forms of cooperation,” he stressed.
Armenia Has Already Left the EAEU in Practice
According to Mehrabyan, completing the separation from the CSTO should be followed by the beginning of Armenia’s withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union.
He believes the EAEU no longer serves Armenia’s interests and that the country should not waste time.
“In reality, the EAEU is already closed for us. Today the import of Bjni products was banned on the grounds that something had allegedly been found in them. That means we can already state that the EAEU effectively no longer exists for Armenia either. So why should we remain in the union?” he said.
Mehrabyan proposes launching consultations with the European Union as soon as possible on returning to the framework of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.
According to him, Brussels has already granted Armenia several temporary trade preferences, and Yerevan’s task now is to make those arrangements permanent and institutionalized.
The political analyst concluded that leaving the CSTO and later the EAEU would create new political, economic and security opportunities for Armenia while deepening European integration.