Legal Bribery? $750,000 to be Allocated to Unknown Agricultural Producers

The "Jhoghovurd" newspaper reports that during the cabinet meeting held yesterday, the Government of Armenia decided to allocate 350 million drams from the government reserve fund to support agricultural producers through the Prime Minister's Office. This development is particularly alarming, especially in light of the upcoming local self-government elections. Why is this concerning? Because the issue was included among those that were not reported on, and some points remained highly confidential. No explanation has been provided regarding why approximately $750,000 is being allocated to unknown agricultural producers or which specific agricultural producers are targeted. There was no explanation or details in the rationale provided.

This could be indicative of systemic bribery, as repeatedly criticized by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, especially since on December 5, 441 communities will be merged into 38 community clusters, which include: Ashtarak-Aparan-Talin, Ararat-Artashat-Masis-Vedi, Armavir-Araks-Baghramyan-Khoy-Metsamor-Vagharshapat-Parakar, Gavar-Martuni-Sevan-Vardenis, Tumanyan-Spitak-Vanadzor-Pambak, Abovyan-Garni-Dzoraghbyur-Nor Hachn-Hrazdan-Nairi, Aghuryan-Amassia-Ashotsk-Artik, and in Tavush, Noyemberyan.

This means that elections will take place in these communities, and it is not excluded that the approximately $750,000 from the government reserve fund may be distributed in communities under the guise of electoral support, but effectively functioning as bribery.

For more details, see today's issue of the newspaper.