Armenia between Europe and RussiaAgainst this backdrop, the European Union pledged to “stand by Armenia”. Years later, speaking from podiums in both Europe and Yerevan, the same Pashinyan has declared Armenia’s aspiration to join the European Union. Nagorno-Karabakh was not part of Armenia, and the agreements signed between the two countries applied only to Armenia itself, not to the unrecognised entity. In return, the European Union deployed a civilian monitoring mission to Armenia, which helped stabilise the situation along the border with Azerbaijan. However, as Karapetyan holds citizenship of several countries, not only Armenia, Armenian law bars him from serving as an MP or becoming prime minister.