Armenia Imports Russian Fuel via Azerbaijan to Resolve Shortages

The Government of Armenia has begun importing Russian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and agricultural products via rail through Azerbaijan to resolve critical supply shortages. This transition follows agreements reached in October 2025 between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to establish a reliable energy corridor that bypasses congestion at the Verkhny Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border and transportation bottlenecks in Iran.

To further stabilize the Armenian market, Azerbaijan lifted restrictions on cargo transport and began supplying oil products and fuel. On December 19, the Azerbaijani energy company SOCAR delivered 22 wagons of fuel to Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan assured that price increases associated with these fuel shortages, which the Competition Protection Commission described as seasonal, will be resolved by December 2026.

Armenian and Azerbaijani officials have characterized the move as a step toward regional stability. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan noted that the arrangement is mutually beneficial, as it allows Azerbaijani and Turkish cargo to transit through Armenian territory in exchange for fuel supplies. President Ilham Aliyev framed the cooperation as a means to achieve lasting peace in the Caucasus.