DUSHANBE, December 2, 2014, Asia-Plus – Radio Liberty reports that dozens of opposition activists and their supporters rallied in front of the Armenian parliament in Yerevan yesterday to urge lawmakers to reject the treaty on joining the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

The leader of the opposition Union for National Self-Determination party, Paruyr Hairikian, said on December 1 that it will “never” be acceptable “to become an ally with someone who has announced a war against the civilized world.”

He added that “it was hard to imagine anything more abominable for our state” than to join the economic bloc.

On December 1, Armenia''s parliament began debating the treaty, which it is expected to pass.

President Serzh Sarkisian signed the agreement to join the group in October at a ceremony in Minsk, Belarus.

Armenia is set to join Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan in the economic grouping when it comes into force on January 1.