Russia ramps up pressure on Armenia ahead of Sunday's crucial election

Article excerpt

Russia is escalating pressure on Armenia days before Sunday's parliamentary elections, threatening to raise gas prices, restrict Armenian imports, and potentially suspend the country from the Eurasian Economic Union if it continues pursuing European Union membership. Moscow, long Armenia's closest ally, has deployed its economic arsenal as Armenians prepare to vote, signaling that deeper ties with Europe come at a steep cost. The threats underscore the geopolitical squeeze facing Armenia, caught between its Soviet-era relationship with Russia and its growing attraction to Western institutions.