In 2011, Aghvan Hovsepyan reported 7,889,525 AMD in revenue – this was his salary as Prosecutor General. Nevertheless, he reported 12.1 million Euros in bank deposits.
MPs of the ruling government coalition didn't show up today for a special parliamentary hearing called by the opposition to postpone the launch of the mandatory pension fund system due to start on January 1, 2014.
Next year, the amount of state child-care benefits for infants up till the age of two will remain at the current 18,000 AMD ($44) monthly level
Zurabyan charged that the government was buying the devices at above market cost and that others had been prevented from importing cheaper models.
The ruling government coalition (the Republican Party and Rule of Law) boycotted the vote, thus nullifying the entire process.
Rule of Law MP Khachik Haroutyunyan has filed a resignation petition so that he can assume the post of director at the soon to be established Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Academy in Yerevan.
A few months ago, Zakaryan presented a report to parliament revealing the abuses, running into the millions, and was quickly criticized by President Sargsyan for overstepping his bounds and for exaggerating the problem.
Several months ago, the Control Chamber revealed that millions were being wasted in state procurements and other budgetary schemes.
Bill sponsor Heghineh Bisharyan had argued that changes were necessary given the differing perceptions of the term “gender” that had cropped up in the public.
These daily growing media outlets had a need for new staff and filled the void with young people who were untrained and unfamiliar with professional standards. As a result, serious analytical and investigative journalism almost disappeared.
While Karapetyan’s salary last year as a legislator was 3.1 million AMD, according to his financial disclosure his bank accounts totaled 49.1 million and $108,000.
During the discussions over the past week in the National Assembly regarding a draft budget for 2014, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that the government is not planning to seek a sizable revenue increase through a further toughening of the tax administration.
It appears that the Armenian government believes that paying state employees more money translates into better functioning employees.It also believes that higher wages to state employees will cut down on corruption risks and increase the overall productivity of the bureaucracy.
The offshore scandal that Hetq first broke several months ago continues to haunt Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, no matter how he tries to wriggle free.
National Assembly President Hovik Abrahamyan has pushed through a new make-up for the Armenian delegation to PACE that has effectively left the opposition Heritage Party out in the cold.
At a press conference, Hakobyan gave no reason for his resigning, but added that Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian had asked that he reconsider.
By a vote of 62 to 47, Armenia’s Parliament rejected a bill introduced by Prosperous Armenia MPs dealing with compensation for depositors that had accounts with the former Soviet Union state bank.
Postanjyan retorted that the parliament should be dissolved since it isn’t debating any truly important matters and is merely wasting taxpayer money.
Hakob Hakobyan, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs of the Armenian National Assembly, is always to quick to shoot down bills proposed by the opposition seeking to increase the minimum wage, pensions and social subsidies to the poor.
In 43 of the cases, the ECHR has found violations in the manner the cases were handled in the Armenian court system. (Cases can only reach the ECHR after all legal avenues are exhausted in the country of origin)
At a ceremony today in Yerevan, Armenia’s Chamber of Advocates Chairman Rouben Sahakyan handed over the reins of this professional body, with a membership of 800 attorneys, to Ara Zohrabyan.
The brouhaha all started yesterday at the PACE autumn plenary session in Strasbourg where Postanjyan queried Sargsyan about his losing 70 million Euros at a European casino and his legitimacy as president.
By a vote of 102 to 0, the Armenian lawmakers approved the amnesty introduced to coincide with the 22nd anniversary of Armenia’s independence.
By a vote of 60 to 44, Armenia’s National Assembly today rejected a bill introduced by HAK MP Hrant Bagratyan calling for a new minimum monthly wage of 72,500 AMD ($170).
Without providing details, National Assembly President Hovik Abrahamyan stated today that he had received a response from the Headquarters of the Russian Border Guards regarding an incident that took place on September 21 near the Syunik village of Litchk.
Viktor Soghomonyan, who head’s Kocharyan’s office told Hetq that, “The former president will express an opinion within a reasonable timeframe. But I can’t be specific.”
For the past ten years, the park in Etchmiadzin has belonged to the Armenian Church whose headquarters are located in the same town.
On September 10, Armenia’s National Assembly unanimously passed a bill amending the Law on Copyrights and Related Rights.
Today, by a vote of 67 to 42 a draft bill to make amendments to Armenia’s Law on Profit Tax was approved by the National Assembly.The bill passed on the second hearing.
Opposition Armenian MPs called on Parliament President Hovik Abrahamyan to allow them the opportunity of familiarizing themselves with ongoing negotiations regarding Armenia’s entry into the Russia-led Customs Union.
The fourth legislative session of the Fifth Convocation of Armenia’s National Assembly begins on September 9. Hetq spoke to representatives of the six parliamentary factions regarding the draft bills and other proposals they plan to introduce.
Hovhannes Sahakyan, Secretary of the ruling Republican Party parliamentary faction told Hetq that President Sargsyan’s statement yesterday that Armenian would join a Russian-led Customs Union should have been expected.
On August 14, 2013, the Armenian government awarded a 409.2 million AMD road repair contract to a company owned by Hermineh Naghdalyan, the Vice-President of the country’s National Assembly.
He says that underground detonations at the mine can upset the hydro-geological balance in the area, thus causing a decrease in the flow of the famous mineral waters and a change to its mineral content.
It appears that Armenia’s Ministry of the Environment has no idea how many fish farm operations in the Ararat Valley are breaking the law when it comes to the number of underground water wells actually being operated.
Henrik Navasardyan, who heads the Yerevan Municipality’s Department of Transportation, is in fact the owner of No. 18 bus route in the Armenian capital.
Officials of the Armenian Embassy in Moscow have still not met with Hrachya Haroutyunyan, the driver now facing criminal charges stemming from a road accident resulting in the death of 18 individuals.
New Times political party President Aram Karapetyan says that Russian-Armenian relations have soured of late even though he sees no overt anti-Armenian policies emanating from Moscow.
Local residents have dubbed the new structure “Serzh’s resort”, in reference to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
People taking a taxi from the town of Etchmiadzin to Yerevan, either to get to work or to go to school, now have to pay 400 AMD instead of 300.
The picturesque spa town of Djermouk in Armenia is one of the favorite vacationing spots for both locals and foreign tourists.
Vardanashen, a village in the southern Armenian province of Armavir, is a mere 3.5 kilometres from the border with Turkey.
Seyran Gharibyan, who owns the Argishti 1 company that will undertake the work, is the brother of Vanadzor Mayor Samvel Gharibyan.
Growers are demanding 120 AMD per kilo just to break even. In lieu of this, they have suggested that the government facilitate customs regulations to allow for buyers from Georgia to purchase the crop.
I probably inherited my love of snakes.The elder generation of our village is familiar with the tale regarding my grandfather and his love of snakes.
The special session of the Armenian National Assembly quickly came to an end today by quickly passing several bills to a half empty chamber.
Addressing the parliament today regarding a draft bill on changes to the law on minimum monthly wages, ARF MP Artzvik Minasyan said that six months ago his party had proposed an initiative that would have led to a formula where any citizen would have been able to estimate their salary in the coming year.
Pashinyan, in no subtle terms, voiced suspicions as to the source of funds that Zakaryan used to build a multi-million dollar private residence over the past nine months.
98 MPs showed up at a special session of the Armenian National Assembly tasked with voting on 19 bills and eight international treaties in a round the clock format.
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