Russia views start of Armenia's discussion on its EU accession process as commencement of its withdrawal from EAEU - Deputy PM Overchuk

MOSCOW. Jan 9 (Interfax) - Armenia's discussion of a bill envisioning the launch of the country's European Union accession process may be deemed as the commencement of the country's withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said.

"We view the start of Armenia's discussion on the bill launching the process of joining the European Union as the commencement of Armenia's withdrawal from the EAEU," the Russian government's press service quoted him as saying in a statement.

"The Russian Federation will build its economic policy towards Armenia taking into account this circumstance," Overchuk added, noting that the decision to launch the process of joining the EU is "a sovereign choice of the Republic of Armenia, to which it is undoubtedly entitled."

The Armenian government endorsed a bill on the country's accession to the EU on Thursday. The enactment of the law will kick-start the process. A decision on joining the EU should be made directly in a national referendum, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a government meeting.

Commenting on the Armenian government's decision earlier on Thursday, Overchuk said that the EU and the EAEU are incompatible, in particular, because "both unions assume the absence of customs borders and the free movement of goods, services, capital and workforce."