Davit Ananyan: Armenia must resist external pressure and government  propaganda in choosing its path

ArmInfo.Armenian-Russian relations have entered a dangerous phase, raising the prospect of expanded restrictions on Armenian goods, stricter  migration controls, revised gas supply terms, logistical disruptions, and heightened political pressure within the Eurasian Economic Union  (EAEU), according to Davit Ananyan, a board member of the "Wings of Unity" party and former Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of  Armenia, in his social media post.

Ananyan noted that while these adverse developments are not  guaranteed, a responsible government must prepare for any unfavorable  scenario rather than focus solely on favorable outcomes. He  criticized the current administration for plunging the country into  strategic uncertainty. "On one hand, it declares a course toward  European integration without a formal EU membership offer,  application, or economic transition program; on the other hand, it  insists it wants to remain in the EAEU," Ananyan wrote. "This is no  longer just an unbalanced foreign policy it is a dangerous and  irresponsible self-ignition."

He added that Armenia must now fully assess the impact of export  restrictions and adopt a program to protect affected producers. It is  also crucial to implement a system for managing the legalization of  Armenian citizens' status in Russia and their possible return,  develop scenarios for diversifying gas and energy supplies and  managing potential price shocks, implement a program for access to  new markets and genuine export diversification, and conduct a public  assessment of the economic and social security implications of the  EU-EAEU dilemma. "Armenia should not make choices under the influence  of either external pressure or government propaganda slogans.  However, pursuing a sovereign policy requires institutional  capability, professional calculation, and responsibility. The current  government's track record demonstrates an absence of these qualities,  and both Armenian citizens and the economy will pay the price for  this political incompetence."