Moscow — During a recent meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union, a group of nations primarily composed of former Soviet states, an unexpected moment of conflict emerged when leaders appeared to engage in a dispute during the live broadcast of the event. This gathering featured Russian President Vladimir Putin along with heads of state from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Armian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the summit via video link due to a recent COVID-19 diagnosis, which prevented his in-person attendance. As the meeting unfolded at a resort near St. Petersburg, it started to diverge from its planned agenda when Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who was assuming the rotating chairmanship from Armenia, invited Pashinyan to join the next meeting in Belarus.

Pashinyan replied, indicating he preferred to attend remotely. This prompted Lukashenko to insist on a more personal presence, even offering to arrange a flight for the Armenian delegation to come to Belarus. However, Pashinyan referenced his earlier decision to suspend high-level visits to Belarus, citing Lukashenko’s support for Azerbaijan, which is viewed as a threat to Armenia’s interests.

“I don’t think this is the right format for discussing these issues,” Pashinyan remarked, clearly indicating his discomfort with the exchange. Despite this, Lukashenko continued to press the matter, leading to a tense exchange that went back and forth until Pashinyan firmly countered. Observing the confrontation were Putin and other leaders, who remained silent throughout the heated dialogue.

The Eurasian Economic Union, established around ten years ago, aimed to bolster economic relationships and trade among its member states. Nevertheless, the union has faced challenges characterized by economic disagreements and other conflicts among its members, which was evident in the interactions during this latest meeting.