Russia Cuts Off Gas to Armenia Days After Diversification Announcement
Just days after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed an intention to reduce the country’s dependence on Russian natural gas imports, Russia’s provider, Gazprom Armenia, has taken the seemingly punitive step of announcing a prolonged cutoff of supplies. Pashinyan told journalists on September 11 that Armenia is actively pursuing alternate sources of gas amid deepening tension in…
Just three days after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan vowed to decrease Armenia's reliance on Russian natural gas imports, Gazprom Armenia abruptly announced a month-long suspension of gas supplies to the country starting September 15. Pashinyan had stated that Armenia was actively seeking alternative sources of gas amid escalating tensions with Russia.
Russia had been Armenia's primary gas supplier, providing around 82 percent of its imports in 2025. Gazprom Armenia cited scheduled maintenance as the reason for the cutoff, despite not providing advance notice. The company assured that domestic reserves and additional gas supplies from Iran would prevent any shortages for the Armenian market.
Armenian officials did not immediately respond to Gazprom Armenia's actions or outline any plans to compensate for the Russian supply suspension. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan was reportedly open to supplying Armenia with substantial amounts of gas, but only after finalizing a peace deal brokered in Washington in August 2025. A significant hurdle in these talks is Azerbaijan's demand for a constitutional amendment recognizing its sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory Azerbaijan reconquered in 2023.
This deal's prospects hinge on securing domestic support, which remains uncertain given opposition to the constitution change. Although Pashinyan's party secured a strong parliamentary majority in June's elections, it remains unclear if a national referendum on amending the constitution would gain sufficient backing. In the long run, the history of protracted conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan may deter Armenian officials from granting Azerbaijan substantial economic influence over Armenia at the moment.
Pashinyan expressed optimism that the proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) could help resolve Armenia's gas supply issues. However, TRIPP is also linked to the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal, complicating Armenia's decision-making process.
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