Non-coalition factions don’t recognize ratification of agreement with RF

The Armenian parliament’s non-coalition factions – Armenian National Congress (HAK), ARF-Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage, and Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) factions issued a joint statement saying that they do not recognize the results of the vote on the ratification of the interstate agreements signed with Russia: the agreement on the terms of the purchase and sale of ArmRosGazprom (ARG) CJSC’s shares and its further operations and the agreement on the order of price formation of natural gas supplied to Armenia.

Earlier today an electronic vote was blocked at the special session of the parliament: the electronic vote cards of MPs were taken away by the head of Heritage faction Zaruhi Postanjian, as a result of which members of the counting commission had to count the votes.

The statement says that the vote results were to be approved by the counting commission composed of Sukias Avetisian (Republican Party of Armenia – HHK), Tachat Vardapetian (HHK), Ishkhan Khachatrian (Orinats Yerkir Party), Tigran Urikhanian (BHK), Lyudmila Sargsyan (HAK), Artsvik Minasian (ARFD), and Tevan Poghosian (Heritage).

Yet four of the seven members of the counting commission did not attend the session and no decision on the vote results was taken.

“The agreement has not been ratified by the Republic of Armenia,” the statements said.

The parliament’s non-coalition opposition forces – HAK, ARFD, Heritage, and BHK factions boycotted the vote at the special session of the National Assembly today.

The agreement on the terms of the purchase and sale of ARG Company’s shares and its further operations was signed between the Armenian and Russian governments on December 2, 2013 in Yerevan. Under the agreement, the remaining 20% of ArmRosGazprom Company’s shares have been transferred to Russia’s Gazprom owning 80% of the shares.