Armenian parliament ratifies gas agreement with Russia

At the special session today, the Armenian parliament has ratified the agreements on the terms of the purchase and sale and ArmRosGazprom Company’s shares and its further operation and on the price formation order of natural gas supplied to Armenia. The agreements were signed between the governments of Armenia and Russia.

The vote was boycotted by the parliamentary factions of Armenian National Congress (HAK), ARF-Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage Party, and Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK). The members of these factions left the session hall.

A hand vote was held as prior to the vote, the electronic vote cards were taken away by the head of Heritage faction Ms. Zaruhi Postanjian.

Journalists objected to the document’s adoption. They held in the parliament a poster with an appeal not to ratify the agreements.

77 parliamentary deputies voted in favor of the ratification of the agreements. There were no votes against and objections.

The agreement on the terms of the purchase and sale of ArmRosGazprom’s (ARG) shares and its further operation was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia on December 2. Under the agreement, the remaining 20% of the shares of ARG has been transferred to Russia’s Gazprom owning 80% of the shares.