“Recently, I heard Pashinyan say: ‘Pipelines will run through our territory, and we will receive payments for the gas. There will be plenty of gas and money’. The question is, when will this actually happen?” the Head of State said.

“People don’t look into the details. Where exactly will these pipelines be laid? I want to understand why he is lying to his people. What pipelines? Where will they come from? Who will supply this gas, and what payments will be made?” Aleksandr Lukashenko raised these important questions, highlighting the absence of clear and realistic answers.

The President of Belarus emphasised that Russia currently sells natural gas to Armenia duty-free at a price several times lower than the market rate in the European Union. “$150-160 per thousand cubic metres [for Armenia]. In the EU, natural gas costs $550-650 per thousand cubic metres,” he explained. “This is just about natural gas. I’m not referring to anything else. What kind of benefit is this? If we’re talking about money.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that numerous statements are currently being made in Armenia regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7th. In this context, discussions have emerged about the possibility of Armenia withdrawing from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and pursuing membership in the European Union. Following the summit in Astana, the EAEU leaders released a joint statement calling for a relevant referendum to be held in Armenia.

“We are not putting pressure on the people, especially since we recognise this is a political tactic — the elections in Armenia are to be held very soon. Naturally, these topics are being stirred up ahead of the elections. However, the Armenian leadership is mistaken in taking this approach. It amounts to humiliating the Eurasian Economic Union. All EAEU members agreed on this unanimously,” the Belarusian leader said, adding that at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana, Armenia was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, and the positions of the parties were conveyed in his presence.

“The Armenians must be extremely cautious to avoid, God forbid, repeating what happened in Ukraine… It all began in exactly the same way there. You remember that. The Armenians, who have just come out of a war, should not find themselves in a difficult position because of this. There is no need to rush. They simply need to think carefully and act wisely,” the Head of State stressed. “Before making such a move, the Armenian people need to consider it very seriously. That is the only thing I urge them to do. Once the people express their opinion, we will respect it.”

The President of Belarus warned that certain circles are benefiting from the current situation in Armenia and clearly hinted at who they are. “It serves someone’s interests. They came, gathered some people there (you know who from Europe was present), and made a whole series of promises [in early May, a bilateral EU-Armenia summit took place in Yerevan]… Although we didn’t hear those promises, only criticisms: ‘Belarus and Russia are such and such’. Of course, we are not perfect, what can I say. But look at yourselves,” Aleksandr Lukashenko concluded.