Belarusian president warns Armenia

ArmInfo.The Armenian people should exercise extreme caution when choosing between Russia and Europe to avoid a repeat of the Ukrainian scenario, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated following the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Astana, BelTA reports.

According to the Belarusian leader, many statements in Armenia,  including talk of a possible withdrawal from the EAEU and a course  toward EU membership, are being made in connection with the upcoming  parliamentary elections on June 7. He believes the republic's  leadership is acting inappropriately.  "Armenians must be very  careful, God forbid, to avoid repeating what happened in Ukraine: In  Ukraine, everything started exactly the same way. You remember that.  So that they, the Armenians, who just emerged from one war, don't  find themselves in a difficult situation because of this. <...>  Before taking such a step, the Armenian people need to think very  seriously. That's the only thing I urge them to do," Lukashenko  noted.

Following the summit, the EAEU leaders adopted a joint statement  calling for an early referendum in Armenia on the choice between the  EU and the EAEU.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Armenia should  decide between the EU and the EAEU as soon as possible, which would  allow for a "gentle and intelligent divorce." Yerevan, however,  assured that it has no intention of "divorcing" Moscow.