Ex-premier wants energy minister to be sacked

At a news conference on Thursday, a former Armenian prime-minister, Hrant Bagratyan, said he wants Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan to be fired from office.

"I'd very much like the energy minister to be sacked. About seven months ago that person announced that the Armenian-Iranian gas pipeline was transferred to Gazprom. This is a disgrace for the republic," he said, adding that the Iranian pipeline, as an alternative source of energy, should not be linked with the HayRusgasard company.

Bagratyan also said the agreement on pipeline construction had been signed by him.

"I signed the agreement aimed at diversifying Armenia's energy resources. Contrary steps were not in the country's interests," he added.