National Assembly to Take Measures to Uncover Secret Salary Procedures, Marukyan

The National Assembly will take appropriate steps to uncover the secret procedures through which the salaries of public officials have been increased, and it will present the findings to the public, said Edmond Marukyan, the leader of the ‘Enlightened Armenia’ faction, during a conversation with reporters. This statement comes in response to reports about salary increases for ministers, deputy ministers, and chief secretaries of ministries, which were made based on a secret directive from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as reported by Hetq.am.

Marukyan noted that the information regarding salary increases has been circulating since yesterday, but there has been no response from the government. “They talk about everything, but when there are specific accusations against them, they do not respond,” he said.

“I looked into it, and as far as I understand, bonuses have been given, which have turned the minister's salary into 1.5 million drams,” he highlighted. According to Marukyan, the issue is not the bonuses, but the fact that this was done secretly. “In response to a written inquiry from Hetq media, they state that the procedure was conducted secretly. This is a disgrace. If you do something, it should be done openly and publicly,” he stated.

“A minister should receive a normal salary if we want them not to be corrupt. Now we have two options,” he continued, adding that either the government should come to Parliament and change the factors by which those officials' salaries are calculated, or they should pay those salaries through bonuses. “In both cases, I am in favor of it.” Marukyan also emphasized that public funds cannot be spent through secret procedures unless it concerns defense or national security expenditures.