How dependent is Armenia on Russia?-Part I

According to Webangah News quoted by Tasnim News agency, Armenia’s relations with its strategic partner That is, Russia worsened after the Second Karabakh War, and apparently the country’s leadership intends to change its geopolitical orientation towards the West. It was seriously related to the security situation. Yerevan believes that Russia, as the main partner of this country, has not fulfilled its duties as the peacekeeper of Karabakh and can no longer be trusted and is looking for help from the West.

Meanwhile, the Fitch Ratings rating agency announced this week that Armenia’s economy will be heavily dependent on Russia in the near future.

At the end of last year, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, he stated that he does not see any priority in the presence of Russian forces in Armenia.

However, the withdrawal of Russian forces is not an easy task, as most of Armenia’s industries, infrastructure and even border control It is in the hands of Russia.

borders

The border guards of the border department of the Russian Federation protect the state border of the Republic of Armenia with the Republic of Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This is based on the agreement between Armenia and Russia that was signed in 1992.

Furthermore, in Armenia, the border administration of the Russian Armed Forces together with the border forces of the Armenian Armed Forces at Zvartnots airport and Agarak checkpoint on the highway on the border with Iran, protect They do the borders.

Russian bases

Military and technical cooperation between Russia and Armenia is developing on the basis of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. According to this document, Moscow and Yerevan undertake to help each other and develop military-technical cooperation in case of a military threat to one of the parties.

In addition, military cooperation It is carried out within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Based on the intergovernmental agreement concluded between Armenia and Russia in 1995, the 102nd Russian military base is located in the city of Gyumri. The personnel of this base, consisting of about 5 thousand people, are performing combat duty within the framework of the common air defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States. It was extended in 2044.

After the Second Karabakh War, the cold attitude of the Collective Security Treaty Organization towards Yerevan’s complaint about “the entry and occupation of Azerbaijani forces into the territory of Armenia” caused dissatisfaction in Armenia and Opinions about leaving this organization were expressed.

Russia, which joined the war with Ukraine, did not fulfill its obligations to supply arms to Armenia.

Gas

In the leading sectors of the country’s economy in Armenia, more than 40 Large companies operate with 100 percent or partial participation of Russian capital.

The most important role among Russian companies active in the energy sector of Armenia is Gazprom of Armenia, which owns all gas transportation and distribution systems in this republic.

The sole seller of gas in the domestic market of the Republic of Armenia is the Russian-Armenian company Gazprom of Armenia, which was established in December 1997, 100% of whose shares belong to the company “Gazprom of Russia”.

Gazprom of Armenia organizes the supply of gas for the domestic market of Armenia, as well as the transportation, storage, distribution and sale of fuel, and is in the process of renovating and expanding the gas transportation system and underground gas storage in the territory of this republic.

According to the agreement between the governments of Armenia and Russia, 2.5 billion cubic meters of gas are transferred to Armenia annually.

Currently, Armenia is 1000 cubic meters of Russian gas pays $165.

The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, which has been operating since 2006, also belongs to the Russian company Gazprom of Russia.

annually pays 365 million cubic meters of gas from Iran to Armenia – 3 kilowatt hours of electricity for one cubic meter – based on exchange.

Electricity

In 2002, Armenia gave 5 companies to Russia to pay off about $98 million in debt.

All companies that operate in the field of electric energy and deal with financial and sharing issues are owned by Russia. The exclusive license belongs to the Russian Electric Networks Company of Armenia.

Electrical Networks of Armenia was established in 2002 and since 2006, 100% of the shares belong to the Russian company “Inter Rao”.

The main producer of electricity is the State Nuclear Power Plant of Armenia. About 40% of electricity production is allocated to AES company. In 2003, the management of AES was transferred to the Russian company “Inter Rao”.

In 2017, Tashir Group owned by Samul Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian businessman, all shares of the Armenian Power Networks Company. and bought the Hrazdan thermal power plant.

Dependence on remittances

As relations between Moscow and Yerevan cool, there are the first signs that Russia may cause economic problems for Armenia and its citizens.

In Last October, Russia’s State Duma postponed consideration of a draft law that would recognize Armenian driver’s licenses, which are necessary for business and labor activities in Russia.

According to the official website Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin clearly explains that the Armenian government has not taken any steps to formalize the Russian language.

In Russia, many Armenian immigrants work in public services, including They work as taxi drivers and the lack of driver’s license recognition makes this impossible.

Armenia’s economy is also significantly dependent on migrant workers who send money back home from Russia.

Before Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, about 80 thousand people went to Russia from Armenia for seasonal work every year. Most of them are in construction work. The Federal Migration Service of Russia has announced this number to about 300 thousand people.

According to the Central Bank of Armenia, in 2021, approximately 865 million dollars were transferred from Russia to Armenia. This is 5% of the country’s GDP. This figure will almost quadruple in 2022 and reach 3.6 billion dollars. This is because after the announcement of partial mobilization in Russia regarding the war in Ukraine, about 100 thousand Russians immigrated to Armenia.

According to some figures, the number of Armenians living in Armenia is more than of 2 million people. Some sources claim that this number is 3 million. Mass by Armenia