Azerbaijan Will Not Buy Russian Gas in Rubles

On April 25, the Azerbaijani SOCAR company denied media reports that the country’s authorities had agreed to purchase gas from Russia in rubles. This was reported by Izvestia.

“On Monday, information circulated in the press that the Republic of Azerbaijan would be paying for imported gas from Russia in rubles. This information does not reflect reality,” the company stated.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Fourth Department for CIS Countries at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denis Gonchar, had previously stated that Russia is actively transitioning to transactions in national currencies against the backdrop of Western sanctions, including with Azerbaijan and Armenia.

According to existing expert assessments, about 30% of the total trade between Moscow and Baku is conducted in rubles, he clarified.

Gonchar noted that Moscow remains one of Baku’s leading economic partners and holds the top position among Azerbaijani oil product importers.