Pashinyan says Armenia may seek alternatives to Georgia for transit with Azerbaijan

Pashinyan on oil transit through Georgia

According to Armenian media reports, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia faces certain problems with fuel supplies from Azerbaijan via Georgia. He linked these difficulties to transit tariffs set by Tbilisi.

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“Azerbaijan no longer views transit through Georgia as the only route”

Speaking to journalists, Pashinyan said cooperation with Azerbaijan on oil purchases could continue. He added that “certain issues related to transit tariffs through Georgian territory” remain unresolved.

He said he hoped the sides would resolve these issues.

“If these issues are not resolved, I hope businesses will look for alternative routes to secure imports and exports, if these deals remain commercially attractive,” Pashinyan said.

On 18 December, Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR delivered 1,220 tonnes of AI-95 petrol to Armenia using 22 fuel tankers.

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Background

On 5 December, Azerbaijani media reported on a meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian representatives that took place on 28 November.

According to the reports, the talks focused on the export of Azerbaijani oil and petroleum products to Armenia. The deal could bring economic benefits to both Baku and Yerevan.

Because the two countries have no direct railway link, transit through Georgia remains the only option.

Azerbaijan reportedly asked Tbilisi to state its freight transit tariffs. Georgian officials named a price that Azerbaijani media said was 20 times higher than existing rates.

Azerbaijani outlets argue that at a time when the South Caucasus has a rare opportunity to move from a logic of conflict to one of development, Tbilisi’s approach risks prolonging this transition.

Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development responded to the reports. It said it had received a request from the neighbouring countries regarding a one-off fuel shipment from Azerbaijan to Armenia.

The ministry added that the state would carry out this transit free of charge.

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Journalists from Armenia and Azerbaijan have produced detailed reports on the topic, incorporating official perspectives, expert analyses, and the views of local residents.

Earlier, another pro-government Azerbaijani outlet, Caliber, published an article describing what it said were recent changes in the treatment of Azerbaijani truck drivers by Georgian authorities at the border. The author cited accounts from the drivers themselves.

According to the article, drivers face rude behaviour and disregard for the law. Border officials allegedly detain them for several days.

The piece suggests that these changes in Tbilisi may link to influence from the “northern neighbour” — meaning Russia — or from “those representing Armenian interests” within the Georgian government.

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Although official statements claim the issue is still “under discussion,” Baku and Yerevan have in fact already reached an agreement.

In an article published on 10 December, Azerbaijani outlet Minval claimed that a previous report by the same publication had prompted the Georgian government to respond to Azerbaijan’s requests.

The article said Tbilisi confirmed it would provide a one-off fuel transit free of charge.

Pashinyan on oil transit through Georgia