Russia has again called on Armenia to define its future course between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union, despite Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently rejecting proposals for a referendum on the issue.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated that Moscow expects Armenia to decide by December whether it will hold a referendum regarding its future relationship with the EAEU and the EU.

"It is obvious that if the call for a referendum is ignored by that time, the leaders will take this fact into consideration when deciding on further joint steps," Galuzin said.

He added that the issue is expected to be discussed at a December meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, where member states will receive a report on the possible consequences of suspending provisions of the EAEU treaty with regard to Armenia.

The comments follow growing misalignments between Yerevan and several EAEU member states after Armenia deepened cooperation with the European Union and adopted legislation earlier this year calling on the government to begin the process of European integration.

Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have argued that participation in the EAEU and eventual membership in the EU are incompatible and have called on Armenia to hold a referendum to determine its position.

Pashinyan rejected that proposal last week, saying there is currently no basis for such a vote because Armenia has not applied for EU membership and no accession process has begun.

"A referendum, of course, will take place, but only after Armenia officially applies for EU membership, and institutional work must be carried out in that direction," Pashinyan said. "Holding a referendum today is impossible because the subject of such a referendum does not exist."

The issue has remained on the agenda between Moscow and Yerevan amid Armenia's efforts to expand cooperation with the European Union. Russian officials have repeatedly raised the prospect of a referendum and called on Armenia to clarify its long-term foreign policy direction, while Armenian authorities maintain that no formal EU membership application has been submitted. Yerevan has also stressed that the legislation on European integration does not constitute a bid for EU membership, does not affect Armenia's obligations within the EAEU, and should be viewed as a long-term political process rather than an immediate accession track.

Armenia joined the EAEU in 2015 and remains a member of the bloc alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. However, relations between Yerevan and Moscow have become increasingly strained in recent years, while Armenia has sought closer political and economic ties with Western partners.