The Central Election Commission of Armenia has approved a citizens' initiative to hold a referendum on amendments to the constitution.
However, this is not about the government’s version, which envisages amending the fundamental law to advance a peace agreement with Azerbaijan.
The initiator of the referendum project is the Eurasian Alliance, which is not represented in the new composition of the country's parliament.
The aim of the initiative is to enshrine in the constitution the ban on signing international treaties that contradict previously signed documents. Essentially, it is proposed to constitutionally maintain Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.
In recent months, the topic of “Yerevan sitting on two integration chairs” has probably been one of the most discussed issues both at the political and expert levels.
The parliamentary elections held in Armenia have given this discussion a particular sharpness. In these elections, not only domestic political issues but also foreign policy choices have been the focus of general attention.
It was precisely during this period that the possible referendum topic on choosing the optimal course for Yerevan was brought to the agenda.
At the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union held in Astana, the leaders of the four member states of this integration union—Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan—called on their Armenian partners to determine their priorities as soon as possible.
Their joint statement included the assessment: “We share the view on the necessity of holding a nationwide referendum in the Republic of Armenia on the issue of joining the European Union or remaining within the Eurasian Economic Union.”
Earlier still, during a meeting on April 1, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded the same step from Nikol Pashinyan.
The elections ended. However, the Armenian authorities did not rush to define their position.
Other politicians tried to take the initiative. Tigran Urikhanyan, who served as a deputy in the fifth, sixth, and seventh convocations of the National Assembly of Armenia, became the “voice” of this project.
Now, the initiative group must collect at least 200,000 signatures for the referendum to take place. The signature collection campaign will begin on August 3.
It seems the critics of the Armenian government believe this project could undermine the government’s position. However, everything is not so simple.
Tigran Urikhanyan is not one of the most well-known figures in the country. His close ties with Gagik Sarukyan, the leader of the blossomed Armenia Party in the past, create serious problems for the successful advancement of the initiative.
The famous administrative resource is still in the hands of the authorities, not the opposition.
There is also a risk that the failure of the signature collection campaign could be used by the ruling party as proof of the “Eurasian project’s” collapse. The authorities have far greater capabilities to manipulate public opinion.
But there is one truth — those who walk the path make progress.
It creates an opportunity to prove that the opposition’s effectiveness is close to zero.
Elchin Alioglu,
political analyst