The leaders of four Eurasian Economic Union member states — Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan — have issued a joint statement calling on Armenia to hold a nationwide referendum to determine whether the country wishes to deepen ties with the European Union or remain within the EAEU trading bloc. The call came on the sidelines of the Eurasia Economic Forum 2026, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, and marks one of the most direct public pressures placed on Yerevan by its EAEU partners over its western orientation.

Anadolu Ajansı reported the core demand, noting that the four presidents framed the referendum as a matter of democratic legitimacy, arguing that such a consequential foreign policy shift should reflect the will of the Armenian people rather than be decided solely by the government in Yerevan. Armenia has not formally applied for EU membership but has pursued a series of closer political and trade arrangements with Brussels in recent years, straining its relationships within the Eurasian bloc.

According to TASS, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Armenia should carefully weigh both its gains and losses before choosing between the EAEU and the EU, suggesting the bloc is open to dialogue but expects clarity from Yerevan. Lukashenko's comments were among the most pointed, framing Armenia's ambiguity as an ongoing source of institutional uncertainty for the union as a whole.

Trend reported that the Eurasian Economic Commission has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive report on the consequences of suspending Armenia's membership, with a deadline set for December 2026. The report is expected to assess trade exposure, tariff implications, supply chain dependencies, and legal obligations that would be affected should Armenia formally exit or be suspended from the bloc. The Kremlin confirmed this timeline, according to News.az, which also noted that EAEU leaders framed the referendum call as a constructive rather than punitive measure.

Internazionale noted that the Russian-led economic union is actively considering suspending Armenia over its EU ambitions, describing the situation as the most serious rupture in Armenia's relationship with Moscow-aligned institutions since the country's 2020 defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has in recent years openly criticized Russia's role as a security guarantor and has frozen Armenia's participation in several CSTO military activities, signaling a broader strategic reorientation.

The Eurasia Economic Forum itself served as a backdrop for broader discussions about the bloc's future direction. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used the forum to call on EAEU countries to accelerate the digitalization of the agricultural industry, according to interfax.com, while 24.kg reported that another participating president called for the EAEU to position itself as a regional center for technology and artificial intelligence development. These statements reflected an agenda aimed at projecting the bloc's relevance and modernization capacity at a moment of heightened internal tension.

Zawya.com and Middle East Star both reported on the participation of UAE Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi at the forum, where he addressed economic cooperation between the Gulf state and Eurasian economies. His presence underscored ongoing efforts by the EAEU to expand partnerships beyond its traditional post-Soviet membership, even as internal cohesion remains under strain from the Armenia dispute.

PressTV highlighted Iran's active engagement with the Eurasian bloc, quoting the Iranian president as describing Tehran's role in Eurasian economic structures as a reflection of its strong commitment to multilateral development. Iran has pursued observer and partner status arrangements with the EAEU, and its participation at the forum signaled its interest in deeper integration with the bloc's trade frameworks.

The Tribune reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin, also attending the forum, stated that trade liberalization talks with India have intensified, pointing to the EAEU's broader strategy of cultivating major non-Western trade partners. The Belarusian Telegraph Agency (БелТА) separately published a summary of the Eurasian Integration Strategy's recent results, framing the bloc's overall trajectory as one of steady expansion in trade volumes and regulatory harmonization despite the political friction over Armenia.

What remains unconfirmed is whether Yerevan will respond formally to the referendum call or treat it as non-binding external pressure. Armenia has not publicly committed to any referendum mechanism, and the EU has not issued a formal statement on the EAEU's demands. Analysts have noted that the December 2026 deadline for the suspension consequences report effectively gives both sides a window for negotiation, but whether that window will be used for diplomacy or further entrenchment remains to be seen.