Armenia’s Choice – Will it be Russia or the EU? And Why it Should Matter to the West, Spring 2013

President Serzh Sargysan has been pursuing a multi-vector policy between Europe and Russia, but he will soon have to make a choice. Since the presidential elections in February 2013, internal pressure on the president has been mounting. The country’s economy is languishing. The government is corrupt and only pays lip service to democratic reform. Armenia needs to choose between Russia’s Customs Union and the EU’s Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The West also needs to act and pull Armenia into its orbit. Otherwise, Armenia’s dependence on Russia will continue to undermine Western security interests in the South Caucasus.