Ashotyan: It's Time to Satisfy the Appetites of Pashinyan's Entourage with Large Amounts from the Budget

Yesterday, "Haykakan Zhamanak," a publication affiliated with and serving Nikol Pashinyan, published an article attempting to justify the fact that the globally renowned chess school led by Levon Aronian and Gabriel Sargsyan had been paralyzed. This was mentioned by Armenian National Congress Deputy Speaker Armen Ashotyan on his Facebook page.

Ashotyan's post includes the following statement:

"The official propaganda machine, forgetting that Levon Aronian and Gabriel Sargsyan are primarily Olympic champions and individuals who have brought fame and honor to our country, as well as coaches who pass on their knowledge to our young and talented chess players, has also attempted to politicize the issue, emphasizing their godfather-godson relationship with Serzh Sargsyan."

"Those who have cows mooing in the name of Godfather-godson should remain silent, especially when the government and the National Assembly are flooded with individuals from the Prime Minister's close circle, who possess no visible merit in the public eye."

"Levon Aronian and Gabriel Sargsyan became Olympic and world champions through their own talent, not through familial connections."

"The official propaganda machine also attempted to present the salaries of the coaches at the chess school (400,000-500,000 AMD) as enormous."

"Of course, for the citizens of our country, this is a significant amount, and it would be great if coaches who prepare future champions in all sports received such salaries. However, using the lack of money to question the future of such a unique school is at least morally questionable."

"When it comes to satisfying the appetites of Nikol Pashinyan's close entourage, higher amounts can be found in the state budget."

"For example, recently the National Assembly decided to increase the number of permanent committees by two, making it 11. It is clear that it could have sufficed with a political decision and without increasing the number to give two committees to BHK and one to LHK."

The financial cost of this decision that Armenian citizens will pay from their pockets for one committee is approximately as follows:

• 4 experts at an average salary of 200,000 AMD = 800,000 AMD
• 1 secretary and 1 driver at an average salary of 150,000 AMD = 300,000 AMD
• Salary supplements (chairman + deputy) at an average of 200,000 AMD
• Fuel, transportation, etc. (chairman + deputy) at an average of 250,000 AMD

Thus, the monthly cost of one additional committee will average around 1,550,000 AMD, two will be 3,100,000 AMD, and annually approximately 35,000,000 AMD.

With that amount, it would certainly be possible to maintain not just one, but two schools of global renown, which would bring much greater prospects and prestige to our country than satisfying the state budget for individuals who have pledged loyalty to Nikol Pashinyan and have not distinguished themselves in any other way."