Russian speaker claims gas in Armenia could increase fourfold

Chairman of Russia’s State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin has claimed that gas prices in Armenia could rise nearly four times if the country leaves the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

In a post on Telegram, Volodin said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is using the Eurasian Economic Union to move toward the European Union, but is not openly informing the public about the potential costs, Caliber.Az reports.

He alleged that a withdrawal from the EAEU would lead to a sharp increase in gas prices for Armenian citizens, a significant reduction in remittances from Russia, changes to migration rules, and restrictions on certain Armenian exports to Russia.

"If Armenia exits the EAEU, gas prices for citizens could increase nearly fourfold, while cross-border remittances from Russia—currently estimated at almost $4 billion annually—would be significantly reduced," he noted.

Volodin also compared the situation to Ukraine, arguing that European integration had not delivered the expected benefits for Ukrainian agricultural exports due to tariff quotas and trade restrictions.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov