Most likely taking into growing popular fears that the price of natural gas imported from Russia will drastically rise, Armenia’s PM Tigran Sargsyan announced at a cabinet meeting today that the government would subsidize any price hike by 30%.

Sargsyan added that those who qualify would receive utility stipends.

The prime minister said he had contact the Public Services Regulatory Commission, the agency tasked with approving any rate changes, and pledged that their hearings would be open to any one desiring to participate.