YEREVAN. – What occurred yesterday, Friday, at the Armenian National Assembly (NA) was more than September 3, when President Serzh Sargsyan announced that Armenia would be joining the Russian-led Customs Union, and December 2, when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Armenia, 168 Zham daily reports.   

“Yesterday, the representatives of the ruling majority of the Armenian parliament were defending the agreement [that was signed on December 2] on handing [the remaining] 20 percent of the ArmRusGazprom [Company] shares [which the Government of Armenia owns] to [the Russian energy giant] Gazprom [Company] and, as a result, endowing the latter with unlimited powers in Armenia. 

“[But] the NA opposition and even the alternative MPs were proving that this agreement is a document that degrades Armenia, that subordinates our sovereignty to the Russian trading company.   

“The ruling majority, however, proved, once and for all, that it is prepared to sell everything—personal dignity, national dignity and sovereignty—in the name of serving the Russian interest and, as a result, maintaining power,” 168 Zham writes.