Russia cuts gas to Armenia after bomb found near pipeline

Russia halted gas supplies to Armenia after a bomb was found close to a pipeline in southern Russia, Interfax news agency reported on Monday, citing the Georgian company responsible for transiting the gas.                                           

A trunk gas pipeline in Russia's volatile Ingushetia region was shut down late on Sunday after an explosive device was found nearby, Russian news agencies reported, quoting local law-enforcement officials.                                           

A spokeswoman for the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation, which manages the transit of Russian gas to Armenia, said the shutdown had cut gas supplies to Armenia but that Georgia had not been affected.                                           

"The gas supply to Georgia itself has not been affected as it receives gas from Azerbaijan," spokeswoman Tamara Shoshiashvili was quoted as saying by Interfax.                                           

Armenia gets around two billion cubic metres of gas annually from Russia through Georgian territory.                                           

Gas supplies have been cut to customers in Russia's North Ossetia and Ingushetia regions while sappers defuse the bomb, state-run news agency ITAR-TASS reported, quoting the emergencies ministry.                                           

The mainly Muslim region of Ingushetia, which borders Chechnya, has seen a surge in attacks by Islamist rebels in recent months.