YEREVAN. – As a result of the increase in the price of the Russian natural gas being supplied to Armenia, we stand before the fact that they simply have deceived the people.  

Opposition Social-Democratic Hnchakyan Party Chairwoman, Armenian National Congress (ANC) bloc MP Lyudmila Sargsyan stated the aforesaid at a press conference on Monday. 

She recalled that in the run-up to the recent capital city Yerevan Council of Elders election, the President was asked about a rise in the price of gas, but he just denied this information and called it a fiction.   

“This [information] was concealed from the people and the reason is understandable. Today, however, we face the fact that the gas [price] has gone up,” Sargsyan noted.

She added that this situation also points to Armenia-Russia relations. In her view, neither the ArmRusGazprom Company nor Armenia’s political elite nor the people stand to gain from this price hike.     

“Life is getting [more] expensive, and I am surprised that the people do not rise [against this hike]. If they do not rise, [it means] the people deserve these authorities and there is no need to complain about Russia,” the ANC MP stated.

As for the government’s 30-percent subsidy to this increase in the price of natural gas, Lyudmila Sargsyan noted that not only will this not solve the problem, but Armenia’s foreign debt will grow, too. In her words, this situation could have been alleviated if PM Tigran Sargsyan had resigned from office.    

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am