Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, responding to criticism over the import of Azerbaijani gasoline, said the move does not equate to forgetting Yerablur—the military cemetery symbolizing national sacrifice. Instead, he emphasized that since 2018, his administration has succeeded in breaking the gasoline market monopoly. He made these remarks during the discussion titled “Armenia and Peace at the Crossroads of Risks and Opportunities.”
“In 2018, we struggled to dismantle market monopolies. And yes, de jure, we succeeded. Fuel imports have expanded, and the market has grown, yet some monopolies, with roots both inside and outside Armenia, remained unsolved. Now, before everyone’s eyes, a monopoly built over decades is collapsing like a house of cards,” he stated, according to Aysor.am .
According to Pashinyan, companies that previously dominated the market are now making last-ditch efforts to maintain their positions.
“They are investing heavily in smear campaigns to protect their monopoly under patriotic slogans. Meanwhile, Armenian consumers have overpaid trillions of drams for years. Today, no one wants to take responsibility or offer explanations,” he said.
Pashinyan added that since December 25, Armenian citizens have collectively saved tens of billions of drams.
“Yesterday, I saw more of those claims like ‘you forgot Yerablur for gasoline.’ No, that’s not true. A developed, stable, and secure Armenia with strong international standing is the greatest tribute to our fallen brothers. They sacrificed their lives so Armenia could rise, and today Armenia stands tall as a responsible, dignified member of the international community,” he noted.
He also highlighted that bilateral trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan began much earlier than both the international community and possibly even Azerbaijan had anticipated.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan commented on Azerbaijani fuel imports, stating: “From what I understand, purchasing this fuel is very beneficial for Armenian citizens. I’ve seen boycott calls, but I’ve also heard there are queues for that fuel.”
When asked why Azerbaijan is supplying Armenia with cheap gasoline, Mirzoyan responded: “Because peace is being established, cooperation is taking shape, and their cargo must transit through our territory, just as ours must pass through theirs.”
On December 19, a train carrying 22 fuel-filled wagons from Azerbaijan’s Socar company entered Armenia.
