ArmInfo. The statement of the Armenian Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) on the absence of a force majeure situation and the need to immediately pay bills for gas and electricity is unclear and at least, strange, expert at the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs (AIISA) expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
On April 22, PSRC of Armenia announced the completion of force majeure due to coronavirus infection in the country, stressing that operators are eligible to turn off gas, water and electricity for non-payment by subscribers. Thus, PSRC overturned its own decision of March 25 to consider the situation force majeure and to give subscribers the right not to pay arrears for electricity, gas and water. The decision caused discontent of forcedly unemployed citizens who have to sit at home. On April 28, a protest rally of citizens who were cut off electricity and gas took place at the Government House. "PSRC said that force majeure is over. But I personally do not see any difference between the period following this statement and the period preceding it. People still do not work, where should they get the money? The government, of course, compensated a certain part, but it's clear that this money is still not enough. I think that a separate approach to solving the problem is needed, "he said.
Mehrabyan also emphasized that the latest PSRC decision strangely coincided with the statement of the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov about problems with gas pricing for Armenia. In this light, the extent to which the PSRC ensures the interests of Armenia and the citizens of the country and for whom, in fact, regulates public services, also raises questions. "These questions are hanging in the air, there are no answers to them. And our citizens are justly asking these questions, since they have the right to get answers. What are the people who work at PSRC engaged in and for what do they receive high salaries? They are obliged to give answers. Given family ties between the chairman of the PSRC Garegin Baghramyan and the former director of the National Security Service, now an opponent of the government, Artur Vanetsyan, there may well be a clash of interests, "he said.
"Given the above circumstances, I cannot but agree with the opinion that after the state of emergency, the PSRC members should be vetted. It is necessary to find out what and in whose interests they are engaged there. Another important circumstance is the study of the work of the relevant Russian companies. In particular, the extent to which the activities of utility operators comply with the legislation and interests of Armenia, "the expert concluded.