YEREVAN. – The negotiations between the Armenian authorities and Russia, and over the natural gas supply to Armenia, are shameful. 

Armenian opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party National Assembly (NA) Faction member Armen Rustamyan stated the aforesaid at Friday’s NA special session, during which the Armenia-Russia natural gas supply agreements are discussed. 

Rustamyan noted the above-said during the discussions of the agreement on the sale of Russian gas to Armenia without extra charges, if the remaining 20 percent of the ArmRusGazprom Company shares, which the Government of Armenia owns, is sold to the Russian energy giant Gazprom Company.   

“I am in favor of strengthening strategic relations with Russia. I am even in favor of [Armenia’s] joining the [Russian-led] Customs Union. But this is the most degrading agreement ever since our independence. However, we, the deputies, will not be able to change anything in the agreement,” Rustamyan said.    

The ARF MP added that the current situation is beneficial first, for Gazprom, and second, for the Armenian government which, in his view, seeks to maintain power at any cost.  

Armen Rustamyan strongly criticized the agreement’s provision whereby Armenia can purchase natural gas solely from Gazprom for the next thirty years.   

The Armenian political opposition believes that the Armenian Constitutional Court-sanctioned agreement envisions that Armenia will be completely dependent on Gazprom until the year 2043, and without the right to pass new respective laws, or make any changes in the agreement.