Eurasianet

People in Tajikistan loved their cheap, hi-tech fix to keep in touch with relatives far from home. So the government took it away.

The 52-year-old tycoon has made no secret of his strong support for Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, who took office in September 2016 and has a reputation as a technocratic reformist.

While the defense minister refused to specify exactly how the budget growth would be allocated, he did suggest the increase would be utilized for new weapons systems for the Armenian military.

Western backers are making a tactical retreat, hoping that a quiet approach will ultimately help the controversial legislation pass.