Those Who Try to Present Me as a Deluded and Corrupt Official Do Not Understand Who They Are Dealing With: Agajanian

The head of the Prime Minister's office, Eduard Agajanian, has addressed reports suggesting that his establishment does not provide cash register receipts.

“To be honest, I have been thinking for a long time about whether it makes sense to respond to the media coverage that has been actively circulating and exploiting social networks in recent days, suggesting that my establishment does not provide cash register receipts, especially since I have publicly accused those who demonstrate such behavior on various occasions. There is also a circulating image of a car parked in violation of the law in front of the mentioned café, attempting to characterize me as a lawbreaker and a corrupt official who sees themselves above the law, parking the service vehicle in unauthorized places. Unfortunately, addressing such misinformation poses risks of further amplifying its importance and spreading it even more. On the other hand, not responding carries the risk of leaving a certain sediment in the public consciousness that can distort the perception of the individual, official, or phenomenon in the long term. In light of this, I have decided to address these accusations point by point and in more detail.

So, here it is:

1. Before the events of May 2018, I was engaged in entrepreneurship while also working at HSBC Bank. The café/club mentioned in the circulating article has been my property since 2014. Naturally, from the very first day of my assumption of office, the establishment's operations were halted both formally and factually. It was reopened in December 2019, and the sole proprietorship was registered under the name of the person effectively managing the establishment. Consequently, I have had no formal or factual involvement and could not have had any in its current operations. Moreover, since it was not initially registered as an LLC, there was no option for fiduciary management. This is all I have to say regarding my connection with the establishment. I believe this introduction is important in the context of further clarifications.

As I mentioned earlier, the reopening took place in December 2019. This date is significant because, during this time, 11,000 newly opened entrepreneurs applied to the State Revenue Committee (SRC) to acquire cash register machines, facing issues related to their import to Armenia. The SRC announced at the same time that newly opened entrepreneurs would be allowed to operate without cash register machines, with oversight provided through monitoring administration. It was planned that during the period until obtaining cash register machines, the turnover of entrepreneurs would be recorded through their declarations, based on which their accruing tax obligations would be calculated. Therefore, this establishment was one of those 11,000 applicants, and there were and could be no issues related to its operations. The circulating video was produced during the winter months when there was a cash register machine deficit.

Of course, I regret that I have had to spend so much time responding to various absurd accusations. However, as I have mentioned, ignoring them could lead to misconceptions among certain segments of our citizens. Therefore, I have always said and will continue to assert that entrepreneurs who do not provide cash register receipts are essentially robbing the state of that amount, leaving all the resulting impacts on Armenia's defense, healthcare, education, territorial development, and other sectors. All parties involved in the transaction (buyer, seller) should equally share this responsibility.

2. As I have already stated, the establishment in question has been owned by my family since 2014, so my periodic visits after working hours are perhaps justifiable. However, the crucial point here is whether I visit it outside working hours using a service vehicle, supposedly keeping the driver waiting as I finish my 'coffee.'

According to those spreading misinformation, this is supposedly the core of the issue, as not only am I using the car outside working hours for personal pleasures, but also look where I am parking it. First, let me say that violating parking regulations has no justification, except in certain specific cases related to officials with specific functions. However, what is interesting is that at the end of a workday, I almost always switch to using my personal vehicle or walk. The published photos are at least several months old and were taken in the best case in January-February of this year. Why do I mention this circumstance? Because I can recollect only 2-3 instances when, a minute or two before a business meeting, I entered the café with a specific purpose, during which the car was parked directly in front and waiting for my exit. It is perhaps clear that my oversight was to neglect the parking violation, and in this respect, I fully accept my share of the blame. As for who and with what purpose managed to photograph that short timeframe back in January-February and decided to publish it these days, I can only speculate.

In summary of the aforementioned events, I want to say the following: People who try to present me as a deluded and corrupt official truly do not know me and do not understand who they are dealing with. Ironically, those often embodying 'embracism' try to characterize me as a product of their unfulfilled dreams. I would like to remind you that that value system is as foreign to me as the concepts of homeland and dignity are foreign to mercenary journalists/figures. During these crisis times, such a comprehensive media onslaught cannot be characterized in any other way than as national treason. I am confident that this crisis will be overcome. As for who will end up where afterward, only time will tell.

Thank you for your attention,” Agajanian wrote on his Facebook page.