Armenian ruling MP slams opposition call for 1-dram PM salary as "dangerous"

Statements by opposition representatives that the Armenian prime minister’s salary should be 1 dram are dangerous, said Artur Hovhannisyan, Secretary of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Civil Contract party.

This way, he responded to statements made by Narek Karapetyan, coordinator of the Mer Dzevov (Our Way) movement — the nephew of the arrested Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“This is a state, and the system of state governance needs good specialists who must receive decent payment for their work, providing the country with high-quality, good services. They must be free from corruption and other similar mechanisms. If someone is found who is ready to work as prime minister, to perform such complex and responsible work for pennies, then questions will arise. For example, who will take care of his needs?” Hovhannisyan explained.

According to the deputy, the answers to these questions are as follows: the expenses of the head of government will be covered by other individuals. Consequently, they will manage the country through their puppets.

“If a person does not receive payment for their work, they begin to obtain funds elsewhere, in dark, dubious and dishonest ways. Such statements are primitive and even dangerous,” Hovhannisyan emphasised.

By Khagan Isayev