Russia Warns Armenia Over Cheap Gas Ahead of Rubio Visit

The Kremlin has suggested that Armenia could lose its discounted Russian gas price if it moves further away from Moscow, ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Armenia is a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and remains heavily dependent on Russia for energy supplies, but has sought closer ties with the European Union in recent years.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Armenia buys Russian gas at a “very, very attractive and more than preferential price”, adding that such terms are not available to countries in other integration frameworks.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Yerevan had no interest in severing political and economic ties with Russia. Rubio is due to visit Armenia on Tuesday for talks with Mirzoyan and attend the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

Relations between Moscow and Yerevan have deteriorated since Azerbaijan retook Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023 despite the presence of Russian peacekeepers. In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Armenia paid $177.50 per 1,000 cubic meters for Russian gas, compared with more than $600 in Europe.

Armenia is due to hold a parliamentary election in June, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party facing several opposition parties, many of them pro-Russian.

(reuters, max)