The Kremlin warned on Monday that Armenia could lose the “very attractive” price it pays for Russian gas if it moved away from integration with Russia and deepened ties with the European Union.
Armenia is a member of a Russian-led economic union and remains heavily dependent on Russia for energy supplies. In recent years, however, it has pursued closer ties with the European Union, including adopting a law last year to begin its accession process to the bloc.
“There is a very, very attractive and more than preferential price for Russian gas,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about relations with Armenia.
“But, of course, such terms are not available to participants in other integration frameworks. There, the pricing structure is entirely different. It is market-based.”
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Armenia had no interest in severing political or economic ties with Russia.
“We want and will strive to preserve and deepen our normal relations,” Russian news agency Interfax quoted him as telling reporters in Yerevan on Monday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the issue of gas pricing during a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in April, saying Yerevan paid $177.50 for 1,000 cubic metres of Russian gas that would cost more than $600 in Europe.
"The disparity is vast," Putin said.
The Russian leader also told reporters on 9 May that it would be “logical” for Armenia to hold a referendum on its aspirations to join the EU.
Armenia is due to hold a parliamentary election in June, pitting Pashinyan’s party against an array of opposition groups, many of them pro-Russian.
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Armenia's Constitutional Court on Saturday dismissed legal challenges from opposition parties seeking to annul last month's parliamentary election results, paving the way for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to continue in office.
Armenia's parliament has passed a new law raising the requirements for citizens living abroad to vote in national elections, following concerns over alleged efforts to influence last month's parliamentary vote through Armenian citizens residing in Russia.
The European Union has announced an additional €18 million ($20.5 million) in economic assistance for Armenia and moved to ease export rules for Armenian goods, as Brussels seeks to strengthen ties with the South Caucasus country amid growing Russian trade pressure.
Georgia's Minister of Internal Affairs, Sulkhan Tamazashvili, has wrapped up an official visit to Armenia with a clear message: the two countries' law enforcement agencies are set to work even closer together.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
Governments are tightening restrictions on teenagers’ use of social media amid growing concerns over mental health, online safety and platform design, but questions remain over enforcement and whether bans can meaningfully change behaviour.
Uzbekistan is seeking to expand export and import cargo transportation through Georgia’s Black Sea port of Poti as part of efforts to diversify trade routes and strengthen regional connectivity, the Ministry of Transport said.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Sunday as Iran held funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four members of his family on the second day of mass processions. Three of Khamenei's sons attended the ceremony, while his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, made no public appearance.
Armenia's Constitutional Court on Saturday dismissed legal challenges from opposition parties seeking to annul last month's parliamentary election results, paving the way for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to continue in office.
Kyrgyzstan’s ex-second in command, Kamchybek Tashiev, has been convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s President Sadyr Japarov. Tashiev and Japarov had ruled the Central Asian nation in tandem since 2020, until the former was unexpectedly ousted in February.
Uzbekistan will open an embassy in Georgia, the Central Asian country’s presidency has said. The announcement follows talks between Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi.
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