Gas supplies from Russia to Armenia and Georgia cut off

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Georgia and Armenia cannot receive gas from Russia. On Sunday, several explosions have occurred on the Mozdok-Tbilisi section of the gas pipeline, as a result, gas supplies from Russia to the South Caucasian countries was cut off. As the Russian Emergency Ministry says, the explosions occurred at 02:55 a.m. (Moscow time) near the Lars check-point in South Ossetia (Russia). The ministry cannot confirm yet whether the explosions were caused by terror activity or some technical reasons. According to preliminary assumption, the gas pipeline was damaged by technological reasons.

The first explosion occurred at the North Caucasus-Transcaucasus branch (diameter 1200 mm) 30 kilometers to the south from Vladikavkaz near the Lars check-point. Then the branch of a reserve branch gas pipeline Mozdok-Tbilisi (diameter 700 mm) exploded and kindled. The cut-off coincided with switching to market prices and extremely cold weather. As Ekho Moskvy radio station reports, the accident was caused by technical reasons, the explosions could happen because of the low temperatures. However, the South Ossetian police does not rule out that it was a diversion.