The contribution from each apartment is estimated to be 1,000 rubles. As in previous years, only successful businessmen, deputies, and important government officials are able to pay this much money. In this scenario, the dodger occasionally has to make a payment to a militiaman who, in the hope of making an extra buck, raids buildings during cold winter nights. Of course, where there is a shortage, there is profiteering. The real tragedy in this situation, however, is the source of the shortage.
Natural gas imported from Turkmenistan is the major source of energy for Armenia.
As a result of the Karabakh conflict, for the past several years Azerbaijan has been blocking the gas pipeline that runs through Kazakhstan, Russia, and Azerbaijan. Armenia was forced to lay an additional pipeline through Georgia, which is Armenia's only connection to the outside world. Unfortunately, the difficult economic situation and colossal expense of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh don't permit Armenia to buy enough natural gas for its needs. The minimum gas requirement for Yerevan, the capital, plus a 12-hour supply for the entire republic, totals 12 million cubic meters per day. Despite all this hardship, the population has not revolted.