Sergey Stankevich: The controversy surrounding the EAEU will end in a rhetorical storm, Armenia will remain in the union Political scientist Sergey Stankevich assessed the consequences of Armenia's possible exit from the EAEU and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's response to the report on trade and economic relations with the association. According to the expert, the report only mentioned that membership in the Union gives Armenia preferential prices, and leaving means exceeding market prices. The current discussion, he believes, will not lead to the country's exit from the EAEU, but will end in a "rhetorical storm". - What does the report actually say that caused a sharp reaction from Pashinyan? The report states a fact: the current prices in Armenia, based on the trade cycle with the EAEU countries, are actually subsidized - these are preferential prices. If Armenia leaves the club, it loses its membership rights and prices become market prices. No one is going to announce Trump-style sanctions or tariffs. No extortion by restrictive means. While you are in the club you enjoy benefits; When you leave you lose. The report just reminded us of that, with data and facts. - Will the current discussion lead to the exit of Armenia from the EAEU? - Armenia, thank God, is not leaving the EAEU. And I think that Armenian citizens and voters will simply not forgive Nikola Pashinyan for such a result now. Everything will end in another rhetorical storm, and everyone will stay where they are: Russia, the EAEU and Armenia within the association. Pashinyan will continue to head the Armenian government and will continue to look for a way out of the serious geopolitical impasse he is getting himself into. - How do you assess the interpretation of Pashinyan, who saw destabilization in the report? "The fact that Pashinyan interpreted a simple calculation as destabilizing for Armenia shows that he is very bad at arguments. If an account is destabilizing, then what else can we talk about?

Sergey Stankevich: The controversy surrounding the EAEU will end in a rhetorical storm, Armenia will remain in the union Political scientist Sergey Stankevich assessed the consequences of Armenia's possible exit from the EAEU and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's response to the report on trade and economic relations with the association. According to the expert, the report only mentioned that membership in the Union gives Armenia preferential prices, and leaving means exceeding market prices. The current discussion, he believes, will not lead to the country's exit from the EAEU, but will end in a "rhetorical storm". - What does the report actually say that caused a sharp reaction from Pashinyan? The report states a fact: the current prices in Armenia, based on the trade cycle with the EAEU countries, are actually subsidized - these are preferential prices. If Armenia leaves the club, it loses its membership rights and prices become market prices. No one is going to announce Trump-style sanctions or tariffs. No extortion by restrictive means. While you are in the club you enjoy benefits; When you leave you lose. The report just reminded us of that, with data and facts. - Will the current discussion lead to the exit of Armenia from the EAEU? - Armenia, thank God, is not leaving the EAEU. And I think that Armenian citizens and voters will simply not forgive Nikola Pashinyan for such a result now. Everything will end in another rhetorical storm, and everyone will stay where they are: Russia, the EAEU and Armenia within the association. Pashinyan will continue to head the Armenian government and will continue to look for a way out of the serious geopolitical impasse he is getting himself into. - How do you assess the interpretation of Pashinyan, who saw destabilization in the report? "The fact that Pashinyan interpreted a simple calculation as destabilizing for Armenia shows that he is very bad at arguments. If an account is destabilizing, then what else can we talk about?