Armenian media reports that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated there are problems regarding the transit of petroleum products between Azerbaijan and Armenia through Georgia, specifically concerning transit tariffs.
On December 18, 22 railway tankers loaded with AI-95 gasoline, produced by SOCAR, totaling 1,210 tons, were transported from Azerbaijan to Armenia via Georgia.
According to Euronews, this marks the first fuel export of this kind in decades and is seen as a concrete step toward normalizing relations between the two countries.
The agreement on the fuel shipment was reached on November 28 in Gabala between the deputy prime ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
At a briefing, Pashinyan said that cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan could continue, negotiations are ongoing, and both countries’ business companies will be informed. However, he noted issues related to “transit tariffs in Georgian territory” and expressed hope that these problems will be resolved.
“If these issues are not resolved, I hope businessmen, if the agreements are of interest to them, will find alternative routes to ensure import and export,” Pashinyan said.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze instructed relevant agencies to exempt the first fuel transit from Azerbaijan to Armenia via Georgian territory from any transit fees. However, it remains unclear under what conditions future shipments will proceed, as Baku is reportedly frustrated by Georgia’s high transit costs and is considering alternative routes.
A few days ago, Azerbaijani pro-government media accused the Georgian authorities of acting against peace in the region and “publicized the conflict details.” According to Azerbaijani media, Baku is surprised and angered by Tbilisi’s imposition of unrealistically high transit tariffs on Azerbaijani fuel destined for Armenia and also accuses Georgia of hindering peace efforts between its neighbors.