Robert Kocharyan, Armenia’s second president and candidate on the “Armenia” party ticket, stated that membership in the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union are fundamentally incompatible, noting that this is “also accepted by the Armenian authorities.” He argued that Armenia is effectively moving toward a decision point but is avoiding openly declaring it, saying: “They say, ‘We have decided to follow this path, when we decide and make a final decision, we will announce [it].’”

Kocharyan criticized this approach toward Russia, arguing that “you do not speak in such language with a superpower like Russia.” He said that while countries choose trade and integration regimes based on their interests, Russia will respond according to its own if Armenia shifts its alignment. “If you are a friendly country, a trade regime operates with you. If you come out of the status of a friend and move towards countries that are currently in hostile relations with Russia, then you may find yourself in other regimes,” he said.

He further noted that over recent months Russian officials have repeatedly raised similar concerns, adding that Moscow remains “extremely patient” but is increasingly signaling limits to this approach. According to Kocharyan, Russia still views Armenians as a friendly people but has grown concerned about the current government’s foreign policy direction.

Commenting on Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan’s frequent contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kocharyan argued that regular meetings do not substitute for a coherent diplomatic strategy. “By bringing such arguments, he apparently believes that his agile—or rather, falling this way and that - behavior in domestic politics gives hope for the same in foreign policy,” he said.

He added that foreign policy should not contradict economic interests, warning that otherwise “it will hit people.” Kocharyan concluded by stressing that confusion between diplomacy and tactical maneuvering could have serious consequences: “If you confuse diplomacy with attempts to ‘escape unscathed,’ in the end you will fall into a pit. Russia is not a country that does not see or understand what is happening.”