MPs' Salaries Have Not Increased, Tunyan Says

Babken Tunyan has confirmed that MPs' salaries have not increased. He stated that information regarding ministers' salary increases was learned by MPs through the media.

During a meeting with reporters, the head of the National Assembly's Economic Affairs Committee, Babken Tunyan, mentioned that he was not previously aware of the salary raise for ministers. "I too learned about it yesterday from the press," Tunyan said.

The MP admitted that he would try to find out the details of this decision, but not publicly. "Not from the podium, because it is our team's internal decision," he emphasized.

Nevertheless, Tunyan does not oppose the decision to raise ministers' salaries. "I believe it is justified, because we have the issue of attracting and retaining competent, qualified personnel," the MP stated.

However, he reminded that if ministers' salaries are increased, then the entire public service salary system should be reviewed since they are calculated based on the basic salary coefficient. The coefficient for ministers' salaries is 12, while for MPs, it is 10.

"There is no secret decision about increasing MPs' salaries," Tunyan assured.

It is noteworthy that on October 21, the media outlet 'Hetq' reported that, upon a secret directive from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, significant increases had been made to the salaries of ministers, deputy ministers, and chief secretaries of ministries. According to 'Hetq', Pashinyan issued the directive for salary increases in July.

According to the law on salary remuneration for public officials, a minister's salary is set at 793,680 AMD, the first deputy minister's at 661,400 AMD, a deputy minister's at 562,190 AMD, a chief advisor's at 308,305 AMD, and an advisor's at 363,770 AMD.