YEREVAN. – A very cruel phase is starting, and this phase requires a very intensive work with the Russians. But this government is not ready for that with this team.   

Opposition Freedom Party Chairman, ex-presidential candidate, former PM, MP and economist Hrant Bagratyan noted the abovementioned during a press conference on Wednesday.

“Armenia’s entry into the Customs Union does not excite Russia too much; this is ‘hemorrhoids’ [for Russia] because the Russians first would like to see Ukraine there, and then Armenia,” Bagratyan said.     

He added, however, that if Russian President Vladimir Putin insists, there is no option to not entering the Customs Union.   

The former PM stressed that the working tariffs in the Customs Union will cause a reduction in Armenia’s economy, since there are lot more negative factors.

Hrant Bagratyan highlighted that if a union includes a country that imports and exports energy, the problem is resolved in either one or the other’s favor. 

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am