Armenia Braces for Potential Economic Pressure from Russia

Russia could strengthen its economic pressure on Armenia by year-end, according to political scientist Narek Sukiasyan. He notes that Moscow has so far focused mainly on targeting Armenian exports, but is yet to utilize other levers of influence.

Sukiasyan warns that the end-of-year renegotiation of Russian natural gas prices could be a key point for escalation. Armenia relies heavily on Russian gas imports, with around 85% of its annual supplies coming from Moscow.

The country currently buys Russian gas at a border price of about $165 per 1,000 cubic meters. Sukiasyan also highlights the potential for restrictions on wheat and grain exports to become a significant pressure tool, given that Armenia relies heavily on imports from Russia.