I Decided to Gift My Several Generations Old TV to the Mirzoyans. Police Invited Me.

During yesterday's four-day session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the loans available in Armenia, mentioning that he purchased their home electronics on credit because it's convenient. National Assembly Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan also noted that he wished to buy a television from the 'Zigzag' store, but due to enforcement measures, he couldn't, and now he doesn't have a TV at home.

Today, Narek Mantashyan, co-founder of the 'Alternative' NGO, brought a plasma TV near the National Assembly as a gift for Mirzoyan.

In an interview with Armdaily.am, Mantashyan stated that he learned about the situation on the same day Mirzoyan was supposed to buy a TV. "I was called and told that Mirzoyan was at the 'Zigzag' store in Yerevan with his bodyguards, but due to enforcement measures, he couldn't make the purchase," he explained.

In a conversation with the media, Mantashyan mentioned that initially, he wanted to make the situation public right away: "But then I realized that it was intended for people to think they are very honest and can't even buy equipment now, wanting to buy on credit but unable to do so. They want to show that it's normal for people to be in debt."

However, since Mirzoyan publicized the issue yesterday, and his wife, Gohar Abajyan, confirmed on Facebook that they do not have a TV, Mantashyan decided to make the gift: "I had an extra old TV at home, several generations old, and I decided to donate it to the Mirzoyans."

The TV was wrapped in a special way for the gift. "I took it so that Mirzoyan could accept it. There's nothing shameful in that," Mantashyan added.

According to his statements, some time later, he was invited to the Arabkir division of the police. "They spoke to me very politely. They told me that the TV was with them and asked me to write a brief explanation of the purpose of this act." Mantashyan noted that in the explanation, he indicated that it was an expression of goodwill: "So that our state officials are at least minimally provided for in their daily living conditions. But I was told that Mirzoyan did not accept the gift, and I took the TV back."