Armenia’s parliament on Wednesday passed a bill to begin the European Union (EU) membership process, breaking away from Moscow’s orbit as a historically Russia-ally. Armenia, a landlocked border state in the Caucasus, has grown closer to the West in recent years, expressing frustration that Moscow has failed to protect it from its arch-enemy Azerbaijan.
Passed in final reading with all 64 votes from the ruling Civil Contract Party MPs and seven votes against from opposition MPs, the bill calls on the Armenian government to begin the EU accession process. “The Republic of Armenia… announces the start of the process of Armenia’s accession to the European Union (EU),” the text reads.
Relations between Yerevan and Moscow have deteriorated dramatically since Azerbaijan’s surprise 2023 invasion defeated Armenian-backed separatists in Baku’s Karabakh region. Armenia has accused Russia, which has deployed about 2,000 troops in the region, of doing nothing to prevent the fighting and the subsequent exodus of more than 100,000 Armenians from the region.
Four days after the attack, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the nation in a televised address that Yerevan’s current security alliance was “ineffective” and “inadequate.” In February 2024, he suspended Armenia’s participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, a defense grouping of several former Soviet states similar to NATO.
Yerevan has joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Moscow’s wishes, a move that would force the country to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he visits Yerevan. Armenia launched visa liberalization talks with the EU in September 2024 and deepened its defense ties with France.
In July 2024, he conducted military exercises with American soldiers. Moscow has expressed disappointment at the move, accusing Yerevan of trying to break off relations. Russia announced last year that it would withdraw its peacekeeping forces from Karabakh and remove some soldiers and border guards from the Caucasus state.
