Armenia Faces November Gas Cutoff Risk as Russia Pushes Political Condition

The second demand targets assets with Russian ownership, including the national railway network and Gazprom. Armenian authorities must cease any actions regarding these assets that Moscow might interpret as an infringement on Russian capital.

The third condition concerns foreign policy direction, specifically the choice between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union.

Moscow is reportedly requiring Yerevan to either repeal the law “On the Initiation of the Process of the Republic of Armenia’s Accession to the European Union” or schedule a definitive date for a public referendum on the matter.

The fourth requirement calls for an end to the prosecution of pro-Russian political figures, specifically referencing Robert Kocharyan, Gagik Tsarukyan, Andranik Tevanyan, and Samvel Karapetyan.

Additionally, Hraparak’s sources mention a further demand to appoint an acceptable deputy prime minister to the Armenian government with whom Russian officials can coordinate directly.

Attempts to verify these claims with Armenian government officials yielded limited clarity, with sources indicating that only a small circle of authorities is aware of the actual situation.

The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia promised to respond to inquiries but provided no official statement during the day.

The Kremlin’s economic pressure on Armenia follows a series of diplomatic disputes over Armenia’s Western pivot. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had previously declined to attend the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit on May 28–29, citing the upcoming June 7 parliamentary campaign.

In response, Russian leader Vladimir Putin suggested Armenia hold a referendum on exiting the Moscow-led trade bloc to pursue EU membership, calling it a potential “mutually beneficial divorce.”

Pashinyan rejected the framing, asserting that Armenia acts on interstate logic and will continue implementing legislation to deepen ties with the EU while maintaining its current EAEU obligations.