Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the government is ready to consider diversifying gas supplies if a practical opportunity emerges. He made the comments at a Friday briefing when asked whether Armenia is looking for an alternative to Russian gas amid statements that the country could lose a number of privileges, including a preferential gas price, if it leaves the EAEU.
Moscow has repeatedly warned about possible economic consequences for Armenia if Yerevan shifts to EU standards. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that in such a case Russia would have to scale back its integration-based economic cooperation with Armenia. In his estimate, the country could lose up to 14% of GDP after leaving the EAEU if energy prices rise.
Pashinyan said gas in Armenia is not cheap, and that the price increase from the border to the end consumer is, compared with other countries, among the highest in Armenia. He also said Gazprom Armenia earns large profits, adding that this is a fact that should be acknowledged.
The prime minister stressed that there is no sector in which the authorities would rule out diversification. According to him, each specific situation may require a specific response: if problems related to price increases arise, the government will examine where prices can be raised or which services that are now free could later be assigned a proportional charge.
Returning to the gas issue, Pashinyan said that if it becomes possible to import gas from several countries, Armenia will take that path. He added that if, under the TRIPP project, it is possible to lay a pipeline through Armenian territory and receive transit payments, that option could also be pursued. The authorities, he said, understand how they would act under different scenarios.
Background on gas supplies
In late May 2026, the Russian side warned that the terms of energy supplies to Armenia could change amid Yerevan’s course toward European integration. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the preferential price of Russian gas for Armenia could become a market price if the country leaves the EAEU.
In addition, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev sent a letter to the Armenian side warning that Moscow could suspend or terminate the December 2, 2013 agreement on supplies of gas, oil products and rough diamonds if Armenia continues its process of accession to the EU. Tsivilev later clarified that if Armenia moves from the EAEU to the EU system, Russia will not be able to supply gas at the current price.
In late August, Armenian Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan said the government had already calculated the possible consequences of a higher Russian gas price and plans to incorporate those calculations into its risk assessment system.
Gazprom-Armenia CJSC is a 100% subsidiary of Russia’s Gazprom holding and the monopoly supplier of natural gas from Russia to Armenia for domestic consumption.
At present, the price of Russian gas for Armenia at the border stands at $165 per 1,000 cubic meters. That price has been in effect since January 1, 2019 and, under the current Armenian-Russian agreements, is not supposed to change until the end of 2031.
