Armenia has begun making payments for Russian gas in rubles, the country's Minister of Economy Vagan Kerobyan told RBC.

“We need to move towards national currencies. There is progress in this direction on the Russian side,” he added.

“As far as I know, the last few payments were made in rubles, but at a relevant rate,” he said. According to Kerobyan, prices are set in dollars, but the payment is made in rubles.

“The Gazprom contract for the supply of gas to Armenia indeed allows paying for gas in rubles for several years now, and this opportunity is being used,” Gazprom official representative Sergey Kupriyanov confirmed.

The tariff for natural gas for ordinary consumers in Armenia increased by AMD 4.7 per cubic meter beginning from April 1, amounting to AMD 143.7. The Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) made a decision based on an application from Gazprom Armenia back in March.