President Serzh Sargsyan received today Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov. Speaking about the ongoing protests in Armenia against the planned electricity price hike, President Sargsyan said some experts seek to find anti-Russian sentiments in the developments. He said he’s glad that protesters themselves reject these assumptions.

The President informed that Armenia had to make the unpopular decision because of the fluctuation of the currency exchange rate and the rise of the net worth of electric energy. He added that issues of subsidising the cost to needy families have also been taken into consideration. The Government ruled yesterday to raise the monthly allowances for 105 thousand families. The President said the losses of the Electric Networks of Armenia that resulted from possible shortcomings of the company’s activity.

The President said it would be right for the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission to keep the activity of the Russian companies in Armenia in the focus of attention.

The President noted that it would be correct for the Commission to consider the option of conducting audit in the Distribution Networks of Armenia with the participation of the expert community and representatives of the civil society.