YEREVAN. – The Armenian government’s subsidy for the forthcoming Russian natural gas price hike is incomprehensible.

Opposition Heritage Party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan, who headed the Heritage-led “Barev [Hello], Yerevan” bloc’s list in the capital city Yerevan Council of Elders election on May 5, stated the aforesaid during a press conference on Friday. 

He noted that the abovementioned subsidy is incomprehensible because in this case, they help the larger gas consumer much more, whereas the smaller gas consumer, much less.   

Martirosyan did not rule out that by raising the price of gas, Russia is taking punitive actions against Armenia for adopting a Western vector.   

At the same time, Heritage’s official expressed a conviction that had there been legitimate authorities in Armenia and the country’s system of governance had been effective, the gas price hike would not have been such a huge blow. He also did not rule out the possibility of a societal unrest in Armenia.  

Speaking on the recently approved government plan, Armen Martirosyan noted they always say shadow economy will be reduced, but it grows.   

“[This] government serves the oligarchy, the subject which created it,” he added.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am