Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Alen Simonyan, said that his country will withdraw from the CSTO () and the Eurasian Economic Union () if Russia increases the prices of gas supplied to the republic.
“If they make such a decision, Armenia will make up its mind and finally leave the CSTO and the Eurasian Economic Union,” Simonyan said at a press conference on Saturday, April 4 (quoted by Interfax).
At the same time, he stated that he “does not think it will come to this point,” as a “very good and effective conversation” took place between the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of the Russian Federation.
During a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted, among other things, that the republic is obtaining Russian gas at a reasonable price. Putin said: “Today, as you know, the prices of energy and gas resources in Europe have exceeded the charts, reaching $600 per thousand cubic meters. Russia sells gas to Armenia for $177.5. The difference is huge. The difference is huge.”
Armenia has suspended its membership in the CSTO since 2024 and does not pay contributions to this organization. Meanwhile, Armenia has not officially left this organization, although Pashinyan said in December 2024: “In fact, we already consider ourselves outside the CSTO.”