Belarus' Lukashenko to Armenia's Pashinyan: Why are you deceiving your people? Who will give you that gas? And for what price?

Answering questions from reporters after the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Astana, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko reflected on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statements about organizing a new transit natural gas pipeline through Armenia, BelTA reports.

"I recently heard Pashinyan's statement: 'Look, pipes will pass through our territory, and we will be paid in [natural] gas. And there will be a lot of gas and money.' Listen, when that will happen is still a question," Lukashenko said. "People, people don't delve into the details, right? From where? What pipes will be laid?

I would like to know why he is lying to his people. What pipes? Where will these pipes go from? Who will give them this [natural] gas? And what amount will there be?” Lukashenko asked. According to him, Russia is currently selling natural gas to Armenia without customs duties, and at a price that is several times lower than, for example, in the European Union (EU) market. “$150-160 per thousand cubic meters [for Armenia].

In the EU, natural gas is $550-650 per thousand cubic meter[s],” he said. “This is only about natural gas. I am not talking about anything else. What profitability is this? If we talk about money.”