Abstract
Since its launch in 2015, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has attracted growing scholarly attention, yet public attitudes toward this elite-driven regional organization remain underexplored. This article argues that public perceptions matter for the legitimacy of international organizations even in authoritarian settings. Focusing on Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, it examines how the EAEU is perceived a decade after its establishment, which factors shape these perceptions, and how they vary across countries. The analysis draws on original focus group discussions conducted in all three cases, complemented by secondary survey data. The findings show a steady decline in public support for the EAEU, with skepticism outweighing perceived benefits. Concerns over economic costs, unfair practices, and threats to national sovereignty dominate, producing divided preferences between withdrawal and “stay and reform.” While core narratives are similar across cases, their salience differs, with criticism strongest in Kazakhstan, weakest in Kyrgyzstan, and intermediate in Armenia.