Severe Response Will Follow: Prime Minister's Latest Warning on Gas Price Increase

During today's government meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the recent increases in prices at fuel stations.

He stated that the head of the Market Surveillance Inspection Body, Armen Kotolyan, had been invited to provide clarifications. Kotolyan reported that the gas price increase is considered an intentional or unintentional exploitation.

“The average monthly density of gas in recent years has been 7.1, but recently it has become 7.9, yet the operators have made no programmatic changes,” he said, adding that the operators have been warned to make necessary adjustments.

The Prime Minister inquired whether this might be related to the fight against the shadow and abuses in gas stations, and whether operators are resorting to such “provocative actions” to express their dissatisfaction.

David Ananyan, the head of the State Revenue Committee, noted that such a scenario is possible.

Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that he had noticed manipulative information circulating, suggesting that the price of gas has changed due to the government's actions and that this is allegedly related to the draft law being considered, while, according to him, the law has not even been discussed in the National Assembly's first reading, and even if approved, it cannot lead to a price increase.

“Some are trying to manipulate, the response of state bodies should be firm. If certain former oligarchs think they can enter the field of manipulation in this situation, they are mistaken. I want to warn for the last time that no one should try to interpret our civility as weakness. Otherwise, they will receive a very harsh response personally—without exception,” he stated.

Pashinyan instructed to investigate and punish the operators engaging in manipulations.

“We have no compromise in the fight against the shadow economy. There should be no fuel station that does not issue receipts. If fuel stations must go bankrupt for failing to do so, although that is not feasible, then let them go bankrupt. There will be no one illegally enriching themselves at the expense of the people and the state in Armenia, and I want this to be clearly recorded,” he said.

Nikol Pashinyan stated that this is an issue of national security and instructed the head of the National Security Service, Arthur Vanetsyan, to pay attention to this matter.

“If certain criminal circles are going to spend millions to carry out manipulations, that is a national security issue. I hope we can ensure concrete results on this matter,” Pashinyan said.