VIDEO: "I Don't Want to Hide That It Is Shameful and Unacceptable" - Vardanyan

In Artsakh, an unacceptable situation has arisen, with several dozen individuals connected to high-ranking officials colluding with Russian peacekeepers to bring in non-essential goods and profit greatly at the expense of the local population's last resources. This was stated by Ruben Vardanyan, co-founder of the 'We are our Mountains' territorial development agency and former Prime Minister of Artsakh, during the discussion on the report titled "Assessment of Economic Losses in Nagorno-Karabakh Due to the Blockade" on March 29.

He clarified that these individuals are bringing watermelons or other non-essential items to Artsakh to make a profit. "I don't want to hide that it is shameful and unacceptable," he emphasized.

The former Prime Minister added that several hundred people are employed by these dozens of individuals, receiving salaries while spending several thousand on these goods.

"If in December, three vehicles were entering the Republic daily, now that number has reached 16. The same products are not available to everyone, despite the fact that vouchers have been introduced for this purpose. Moreover, the vouchers are not functioning properly, forcing people to buy goods at higher prices than they should cost with a voucher. Additionally, the validity periods of the vouchers have been extended, creating a situation where a person who has exhausted their limit cannot timely receive a new voucher," he added.

Vardanyan considers inflation to be a consequence of internal republic processes, calling for an inquiry into who is purchasing these goods, at what price and in what quantity. "In the current situation, where we should be united, the principle of justice is once again violated. This is causing more harm than the economic factors and the inflation associated with them," Vardanyan concluded.