ArmInfo. Currently, there are no grounds for Russia to unilaterally terminate the natural gas supply agreement, as stated by Armenia's Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan to at parliament on June 11. He was commenting on reports that Armenia had received a letter from Russia regarding the potential unilateral denunciation of the agreement.
According to Khudatyan, there are no updates on the matter at this time. "The primary and ultimate fact is that we are working intensively with our colleagues from Gazprom. There is nothing more to add on this issue. We are receiving gas on a regular schedule and at the same tariffs as before. These tariffs are approved by contracts that have clear expiration dates," the minister noted.
Hr clarified that the agreement with the Russian side was signed until the end of this year and the beginning of 2027. Consequently, Khudatyan emphasized, the situation is not as it is being portrayed in the media. "However, anything is possible in this world. It is impossible to say right now what will happen next. But at the moment, the situation is exactly as I have described it. As I said, we continue to receive gas at the same tariffs, and we continue to work with our colleagues just as we did before. We are managing all risks, including those related to potential gas tariff increases; the situation is not what it appears to be at first glance. Allow me not to disclose all the details. I cannot predict what the future holds, but I believe that at this moment, citizens have nothing to worry about. We should not create the impression that we are somehow interested in raising gas prices," the Minister stated.
The head of Armenia's Ministry of Territorial Administration also addressed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement that "the question of Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is already on the table." Khudatyan noted that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has already responded to this statement. "The Prime Minister of Armenia has already said that at this moment, Armenia is a member of the EAEU, that's it," the minister concluded.
Recall, on May 27, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Russia had notified the Armenian Foreign Ministry that Moscow could terminate the agreement on gas, oil products, and diamond supplies if Armenia joins the European Union.
The document informs the Armenian side that if Armenia continues its EU accession process, Russia will suspend or unilaterally denounce the December 2, 2013, agreement on cooperation in the supply of natural gas, oil products, and rough diamonds to Armenia.
Furthermore, in early April, during a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Russia sells gas to Armenia for $177.5 per thousand cubic meters, while in Europe it currently costs approximately $600 per thousand cubic meters. On May 9, the Russian president, speaking to journalists, suggested that Armenia decide on its membership in the EU and the EAEU as soon as possible, expressing his readiness to "begin a civilized divorce" if necessary. Yerevan responded by stating that it would leave the EAEU whenever it deemed it necessary. And on May 29, the heads of four of the five EAEU countries adopted a resolution recommending that Armenia hold a referendum on its continued membership in the EAEU. That same day, the Russian president declared that Armenia would not be able to sit on both sides and needed to make a choice as soon as possible.
