Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has rejected criticism over the import of fuel from Azerbaijan, saying such concerns are “unfounded” and arguing that the move has already benefited consumers by lowering prices.
Speaking on social media on Monday, Pashinyan addressed growing debate in Armenia following the arrival of Azerbaijani petroleum products — a development that marks another step in the two countries’ growing relationship.
Pashinyan stated such concerns are largely shaped by companies that have long dominated the petroleum market.
The prime minister said arguments suggesting that Armenia was indirectly financing Azerbaijan through fuel purchases were misplaced.
He also dismissed counterclaims from Azerbaijan that Armenian imports could be linked to military use, insisting that such narratives no longer reflect the reality of relations between the two neighbours.
“Peace has been established,” Pashinyan said, adding that fears on both sides were rooted more in past hostilities than in current circumstances.
Pashinyan pointed to a noticeable decline in fuel prices as evidence of the benefits of new imports. According to government figures, increased competition has pushed prices down by around 15% in parts of the country.
The price of AI-95 petrol, which previously sold for 510–520 drams per litre, has reportedly dropped to as low as 430 drams at some stations.
The government says these reductions have eased pressure on households and businesses already facing high costs.
First shipments in decades
Armenia received its first Azerbaijani fuel deliveries in decades in December 2025, with an initial shipment of around 1,200 tonnes transported by rail through Georgia. Over the weekend, Azerbaijan sent a new rail shipment of 979 tons of RON-92 petrol to Armenia.
Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan has described imports as part of a broader effort to diversify supply routes and reduce reliance on a limited number of suppliers.
He has said further shipments are expected and that prices could fall further if competition continues to increase.
Despite the economic impact, the imports have proved politically sensitive. Some fuel stations have reportedly refused to sell Azerbaijani petrol, while certain domestic importers have criticised the policy.
Some claim that Armenia risks becoming economically dependent on a former adversary.
Pashinyan suggested that resistance may come from businesses seeking to protect their market position rather than from genuine national security considerations.
The fuel imports are seen by analysts as part of a wider, cautious normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan following recent peace agreements.
Armenia says its focus remains on consumer welfare and market stability.
Georgia plans to cover the overwhelming majority of its natural gas consumption in 2026 through imports from Azerbaijan, according to the gas balance ...
Britain’s government has launched a TikTok account featuring footage of raids on migrants suspected of working illegally, as part of an effort to pe...
Pope Leo is planning to visit Angola as part of a wider tour of several African countries, the Vatican’s ambassador to Angola said on Tuesday, in wh...
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has rejected criticism over the import of fuel from Azerbaijan, saying such concerns are “unfounded” and a...
The BBC will file a motion to dismiss President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit which is based on the editing of a speech appearing to encourage ...
Armenia has announced plans to allocate 150 billion drams (approximately $400 million) to the development of its defence industry for the 2026–2028 period, in a significant move to strengthen its national security.
In late 2025, Iran appeared to recalibrate its approach to Armenia, shifting from a security-centred posture toward a more conventional diplomatic engagement, as regional dynamics in the South Caucasus evolved.
Azerbaijan has shipped 979 tonnes of fuel to Armenia, the latest delivery in a series of petroleum exports between the two neighbouring countries.
The foreign ministries of Armenia and Iran held political consultations in Yerevan, according to official statements.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Timothée Chalamet won the Golden Globe for best male actor in a musical or comedy on Sunday for his role in Marty Supreme, beating strong competition in one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
Iranian authorities have taken steps to disrupt access to Starlink satellite internet, according to users and digital-rights groups, in what appears to be the latest effort to tighten control over people’s access to the internet inside the country.
Georgia plans to cover the overwhelming majority of its natural gas consumption in 2026 through imports from Azerbaijan, according to the gas balance approved by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development
China has launched a wide-ranging campaign across Central Asia aimed at improving its public image and strengthening its influence in the region.
Six Palestinian children have died from hypothermia in Gaza this winter, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday (13 January). The agency warned that more than 100 children have been killed since a ceasefire took effect in early October, 2025.
Türkiye has warned that foreign military intervention in next-door Iran could further destabilise the region amid fears that the United States may be gearing up to strike the Islamic republic.
Investment from Italy in Azerbaijan has reached $805m, Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said as he met his counterparts in Baku.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment