On 9 August, the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council held its meeting in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata. The Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, which country is currently chairing the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), presented the main issues discussed at the meeting.

He noted that the creation of a common financial market is of fundamental importance to the EAEU, adding that the agreement for the creation of a common financial market enters into force in 2020 with the creation being finalized until 2025.

The draft regulation on the elimination of impediments existing in the EAEU alcohol market was another important topic on the agenda. The document is aimed at removing obstacles for the mutual trade in alcohol products and creating conditions for preventing barriers within the union.

The expansion of mutual trade was another important issue. A joint forecast for the development of the agro-industrial complex and the balance of demand was proposed for agricultural products, food, raw materials - fiber and wool for 2019-20. The proposal has been adopted which will allow manufacturers to better navigate the EAEU markets and plan their strategy more efficiently.

Finally, Pashinyan also unveiled that a free trade agreement between the EAEU and Singapore will be signed at the EAEU Supreme Economic Council’s session on 1 October in Yerevan. He also stressed that within the framework of the session, an international conference on the transit potential of the Eurasian continent will be conducted. “The conference participants will discuss the modern issues of the development of a transport and logistics network of the continent, the prospects of working out new wide-scale infrastructure projects by the states of the region, the implementation of the existing projects as well as issues on the development of Eurasian digital corridors,” he said.

In 2013 Nikol Pashinyan voted against Armenia's membership to the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, claiming it threatened Armenia's national security and sovereignty. During that time he was a member of the oppositional faction “Yelk” (“Exit”). This attitude caused some distrust towards the Armenian Prime Minister within the Russian political elite. After being elected, Pashinyan has moved away from this position. He now supports a "maximum productive" participation of Armenia in the EAEU. 

The next meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will take place on 25 October in Moscow. The EAEU meeting in Kyrgyzstan took place shortly after the country faced an internal struggle. An operation by the Kyrgyz Special Forces to detain former President Almazbek Atambayev at his rural residence descended into chaos on 7 August after government troops were beaten back by his supporters. Atambayev had been in a constant political conflict with his successor Sooronbay Jeenbekov. In June, he was stripped from his presidential immunity due to a number of corruption and abuse-of-office charges. One officer died in the clash and 36 people were injured after Atambayev was finally detained on the second attempt on 8 August.