Armenia’s National Assembly Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan said Russian President Vladimir Putin has made no indication that gas prices supplied to Armenia will increase, responding to journalists’ questions, Sputnik Armenia reports.

A journalist referred to a statement by parliament speaker Alen Simonyan suggesting that if Russia makes decisions regarding gas or other issues, Armenia could leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union, asking whether Armenia would indeed take such a step if gas prices rise.

“Why should gas prices increase? No such statement has been made. Do you mean that Russia would fail to fulfill agreements or take hostile actions? For what reason? Claims about a gas price increase are being circulated by certain political forces and media outlets affiliated with them,” Rubinyan said.

He stressed that he would target media outlets that do not transparently disclose their funding sources, suggesting that such outlets serve the interests of opposition politicians.

Addressing existing issues with Russia, Rubinyan noted that such differences have always existed and have not led to any catastrophic consequences over the years.

“Russia is a friendly country to us. We continue our friendly relations, and it is natural that we do not agree on all issues,” he said.

Earlier, during an April 1 meeting in Moscow with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Vladimir Putin stated that Russia supplies gas to Armenia at significantly lower prices than to European countries.