Garik Sargsyan Received 15 Million Dram Salary and Bonuses, Romanos Petrosyan Acquired a 51 Million Dram Apartment in Arabkir: Declarations of Regional Governors

Tert.am has analyzed the declarations of the regional governors of the Republic of Armenia published on the website of the Anti-Corruption Committee. According to this, the highest salary among the governors was received by Garik Sargsyan, the head of the Ararat region, with approximately 15.5 million dram, averaging 1 million 289 thousand dram per month. Other governors received salaries of 10, 11, or 12 million dram during 2019.

It was also notable that the governor of Kotayk region, Romanos Petrosyan, acquired a property worth 51 million dram in the Arabkir administrative district last year.

Details are as follows:

Garik Sargsyan, Governor of Ararat Region

Garik Sargsyan declared one property—a private residential house in the Nor Kyanq community of Ararat. The governor owns no vehicle, and at the beginning of the year, he had 956 thousand dram in his bank account, which decreased to 859 thousand dram by the end of the year. Sargsyan also reported 260 thousand dram in cash at the beginning of the year, which diminished to 180 thousand dram by the end of the year.

During the year 2019, Sargsyan received a total of 15 million 468 thousand 768 dram in salary and other payments equivalent to salary from the governor's office, averaging 1 million 289 thousand dram per month. He is the governor who received the highest salary.

David Gevorgyan, Governor of Aragatsotn Region

David Gevorgyan owns no real estate. He declared a 2005 VOLVO passenger car, which he purchased in 2014. At the beginning of 2019, he had 3 million dram and 5083 dollars in his bank account, rising to 10 million 678 thousand dram and 7466 dollars by the end of the year. His cash reserves were 95 thousand dram and 17 dollars at the beginning of the year, while by the year's end they increased to 231 thousand dram and 834 dollars. His salary and equivalent payments from the governor’s office totaled 12 million 78 thousand 654 dram.

Hambardzum Matevosyan, Governor of Armavir Region

The governor declared one apartment in the Kentron administrative district of Yerevan, acquired in 2017, and does not own any vehicles. He began the year with 1 million 9 thousand dram in his bank account, ending with 2 million 155 thousand dram. Matevosyan also declared 20 thousand dollars and 2 million 300 thousand dram in cash. He received 10 million 754 thousand 536 dram in compensation from the governor’s office.

Gnel Sanosyan, Governor of Gegharkunik Region

Gnel Sanosyan has one individual residential house and two plots of land, all located in the Tsakqakar community of Gegharkunik Province. He declared a 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ passenger car, acquired in 2014. His bank account balance at the beginning of the year was 469 thousand dram, decreasing to 653 dram by the end of the year. In cash, Sanosyan reported 750 thousand dram and 45 thousand rubles at the beginning of the year and 1 million 400 thousand dram and 70 thousand rubles by the year's end. His total income from salary and equivalent payments was 10 million 801 thousand 548 dram.

Andrey Ghukasyan, Governor of Lori Region

Andrey Ghukasyan declared four properties, including an apartment, a public utility building, and a plot of land in Vanadzor, as well as one building with multiple apartments in the Kentron administrative district of Yerevan. He purchased a 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ passenger car in 2015. His cash reserves at the beginning of the year were 8.7 million dram and decreased to 7 million dram by the end of the year. His total income from salary and equivalent payments amounted to 11 million 149 thousand 713 dram.

Romanos Petrosyan, Governor of Kotayk Region

Romanos Petrosyan owned two apartments at the beginning of the year, located in Abovyan city, and a plot of land in the Akunk community of Kotayk. On October 3, 2019, he bought an apartment worth 51 million 357 thousand dram in the Arabkir administrative district of Yerevan. On October 30, 2019, he sold one of his apartments in Abovyan for 17 million 800 thousand dram. Petrosyan took out a 35 million dram loan (debt). He presumably acquired the new apartment in Arabkir with the income from the property sale and the borrowed funds. Petrosyan also declared a 2004 BMW passenger car purchased in 2013. His bank account analysis showed 568 thousand dram at the beginning of the year and dwindled to 2000 dram and 1922 dollars by year-end, with an additional 850 thousand dram in cash reported. His earnings from salary and equivalent payments amounted to 11 million 522 thousand 445 dram.

Tigran Petrosyan, Governor of Shirak Region

Tigran Petrosyan assumed office as a governor on February 12, 2019, resulting in a comparatively lower salary and bonuses totaling 7 million 565 thousand dram. Before his appointment in 2019, he received an income of 470 thousand dram from the Armenian Caritas charity organization and 80 thousand dram from Shirak State University. Upon taking office, he owned no real estate, but on December 9, 2019, he acquired an apartment in Gyumri for 19 million 500 thousand dram. In the other income section, Petrosyan noted that he secured a loan of 18 million 500 thousand dram from the bank. This likely explains how he purchased the apartment. He also declared a 2002 TOYOTA passenger car purchased in 2017. His bank account showed 150 thousand dram at the year's start, concluding with 305 thousand dram, and cash reserves were 1.2 million dram at the beginning and 2.1 million dram at year’s end.

Hunanyan Poghosyan, Governor of Syunik Region

A former Deputy Chief of Police and a General-Lieutenant, Hunanyan Poghosyan reported no real estate or vehicles. During 2019, he received 10 million 165 thousand 951 dram in income, along with 3 million 509 thousand 880 dram in pensions from the Republic of Armenia Police. At the beginning of the year, he held 1 million 137 thousand dram and 121 dollars in his bank account, which changed to 796 thousand dram and 6920 dollars by year’s end. Throughout the year, he declared 12 million dram and 20 thousand dollars in cash, finishing with 12 million dram and 8000 dollars at year-end.

Ararat Grigoryan, Governor of Vayots Dzor Region

Ararat Grigoryan took office on October 31, 2019, receiving 1 million 800 thousand dram for two months of work and equivalent payments. Prior to becoming a governor, he earned 7 million 970 thousand dram from business activities. The Vayots Dzor governor also owns no real estate or vehicles. His bank account indicated 1 million dram at the year’s start and 6 million 870 thousand dram at year’s end.

Haik Chobanyan, Governor of Tavush Region

Haik Chobanyan was appointed governor on February 6, 2019. For the ensuing 11 months of work, he earned 9 million 236 thousand 524 dram in salaries and equivalent payments. The Tavush governor owns no real estate, and he sold a LEXUS passenger vehicle, purchased in 2018, for 1.5 million dram on December 12, 2019. At the beginning of the year, he had 116 thousand dram in his bank account, which rose to 737 thousand dram by year-end. He also declared 10 million dram in cash. Prior to taking office, Haik Chobanyan earned 448 thousand dram from the “Freenarge” LLC, of which he is the sole shareholder. After assuming office, he entrusted the company to Ararat Chobanyan for trust management.