32 Million Drams and 48 Thousand Dollars: Significant Portion Donated by My Uncle Residing in Europe, Argishti Kyaramyan

The acting head of the State Audit Office, Argishti Kyaramyan, has published a clarification regarding his assets on the Facebook page of the Service.

“Dear compatriots, I have a great expectation of being understood correctly.

Regarding the media response to my declaration, I am obliged to address this issue again. Yesterday, during a briefing, the reason I did not clarify the origins of my wealth was solely because I sincerely wanted to emphasize the importance of every individual’s, including that of officials, right to privacy.

However, to prevent any misunderstanding by the public, I would like to inform you that a significant portion of the funds presented in my declaration was donated to me by my uncle residing in Europe for purchasing purposes, though I later deemed that purchase unnecessary.

A part of the mentioned funds also came from periodic donations by relatives engaged in seasonal work in the Russian Federation and other members of our family, who have always provided financial assistance to me considering the fact that I am not engaged in entrepreneurial activities.

One of the reasons I did not respond to this issue is that part of the donations I received occurred before I held any public office.

I have nothing to hide from the public; I have lived my entire life with a dream of a powerful homeland, and I have a pronounced hatred for corruption, which I have openly demonstrated throughout my life.

I have never been guided by personal gain; no personal connection can direct me, let alone be prioritized over the interests of Armenia and the Armenian people. In fulfilling my responsible duties, I expect the support of each of you. We must complete the job we started to its logical conclusion,” he wrote.

It is worth noting that despite his young age (28 years) and experience in government positions, Kyaramyan possesses a considerable wealth. His declarations from 2017 were published on the Ethics Committee of High-Ranking Officials’ website. According to these documents, he received a salary of 4,674,807.0 drams, and his monetary assets in the tax year of 2017 amounted to 32 million drams and 48 thousand dollars, with a 6000 dollar loan. At the time of taking up the position of the Prosecutor of Yerevan, the young man owned 4 plots of land, two residential houses built on one of the plots, another building fixed to the land, a garage, a MERCEDES-BENZ C 180 car, and also expensive jewelry.