Armenia summons extraordinary meeting of Eurasian Economic Union amid disagreement with Russia

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Armenian Economy Minister Vaan Kerobyan said Wednesday that he initiated an extraordinary meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) amid a disagreement with Russia.

He said at a news conference in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, that 35 Armenian trucks were refused entry at the Upper Lars border point between Russia and Georgia.

Kerobyan said the meeting will take place within two days, in the meanwhile the Armenian side is studying the Russian regulatory documents.

Relations between Russia and Armenia have been strained recently because of the situation in Karabakh. Armenian authorities expected that Russia and a military bloc led by Moscow, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), would fight for the Karabakh region which used to have an overwhelming Armenian population but is an internationally recognized Azerbaijan territory.

When Russia and the CSTO refused to interfere in Armenia's conditions, Yerevan accused them of failing to fulfill their ally obligations and turned to the West.

Following the new line, Armenian top officials, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, have been refusing to take part in the Eurasian format, including the EAEU and CSTO meetings.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the Armenia's line, said Yerevan wants to continue profiting from participation in the Eurasian formats while taking unfriendly steps against their participants, including Russia.