Political analyst Beniamin Matevosyan considers it possible that Russia will suspend or increase the gas tariff for Armenia.
“After all, they are the owners of all this and, depending on the positions of the Armenian authorities, they can review economic relations with Armenia, which is happening,” the political analyst said in an interview with Aysor.am.
According to Matevosyan, this is an accepted option in the world: “Look at how Donald Trump is reviewing economic relations with the EU in all areas – from supplies to energy exports, and even to agricultural products. Since the EU is no longer perceived as an ally in the US under this administration, they are being treated accordingly. The same is now happening in our case. Russia is not inventing anything new.”
As for alternative energy sources, the expert noted: “We are currently receiving gas and other energy resources from Iran, but due to production volumes and quality, Iran cannot fully replace Russia. However, Nikol Pashinyan does not need this, because he wants to make Armenia dependent on Azerbaijani energy sources.”
Matevosyan also referred to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that “we will have our own gas,” calling it nonsense. “That does not even stand up to basic calculations. Starting from 2024, Gazprom Armenia will purchase 150 billion drams worth of gas from Russia and distribute it in Armenia, while we will not receive that 150 billion in transit revenues, which would fall under the TRIPP framework. This person is simply lying – he wants us to buy gas from Azerbaijan and become dependent on it in terms of energy.”
On whether Azerbaijani gas would be cheaper than Russian gas, the expert said: “Even if it is cheaper, if you buy it and make yourself dependent on Azerbaijani energy carriers, you are giving Azerbaijan a tool of political pressure. Azerbaijan can say: fine, do you want gas at Russian prices? Then, for example, 300,000 Azerbaijanis must come to Armenia by the end of the year. This is the core problem.”
Matevosyan emphasized that recent statements both from Armenia and Russia are not accidental: “The Russian Federation clearly shows that it will not work with Nikol Pashinyan as the leader of the Republic of Armenia. Whether it will work with Armenia depends on the outcome of elections. As for Armenian statements, they have returned to their basic logic. Just recall what Nikol Pashinyan said about the people of Artsakh and Russia in 2008. He also wrote an article in the early 2000s titled ‘We and Our Interests,’ where he argued against a corridor through Armenia that would benefit the US and Turkey. Now, in order to obtain that corridor, Artsakh had to be surrendered and Russia ‘expelled’ from the region – which he is now implementing step by step.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Russia would unilaterally suspend or cancel its agreements with Armenia on gas, oil products, and rough diamonds if Armenia’s EU integration process continues.
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