Large Delegation Sent to Luxembourg at State Expense: 'HRAPARAK'

The newspaper 'HRAPARAK' reports that a significant delegation has traveled to Luxembourg. The delegation includes Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Anna Hakobyan, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Arsen Gasparyan, Assistant to the Prime Minister Hrachya Tashchyan, Press Secretary Vladimir Karapetyan, Protocol Specialist Vahe Hakobyan, Head of the Protocol Department Manvel Avetisyan, Deputy Head of the Public Relations Department of the Prime Minister's Office Armen Khachatryan, Chief Specialist of the same department Tigran Mehrabyan, Operator Karen Azatyan, another operator Arman Shahinyan, Responsible for Protocol Events at the Prime Minister's Protocol Department Hayarpi Hakobyan, and Advisor Sofia Navasardyan.

It is worth noting that Hayarpi Hakobyan is also an assistant to Anna Hakobyan, and Sofia Navasardyan was previously the controversial 'hairdresser' who was appointed as an assistant and later had her title changed to advisor in response to public outcry.

All these individuals have left under the 'foreign business trips funds designated in the Prime Minister’s Office maintenance expenses', meaning at the state's expense.

Moreover, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Davit Ter-Mkrchyan are covered by the Foreign Affairs Ministry's State Protocol Service's funding, Hakob Arshakyan is covered by the funds designated for foreign official trips in the state's budget for 2019, and Gevorg Movsesyan, Hovhannes Vardanyan, Ghazar Ghazaryan, Arthur Gasparyan, Garik Grigoryan, Vahagn Abgaryan, Grigori Arakelyan, and Gagik Vanoyan are funded by the State Protection Service.

The night expenses for media representatives and airport service costs will also be covered by the funds allocated for foreign official trips in the state budget for 2019. Additionally, the head of the Prime Minister's Office is to organize special flight routes: on May 12, 2019, Yerevan-Luxembourg, on May 13, Brussels-Tyumen-Beijing, and on May 16, Beijing-Almaty-Yerevan. The costs for organizing the special flight will also be covered by the state budget for 2019.

It should be noted that Anna Hakobyan, the wife of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, faces criticism but continues her travels funded by the state, including her assistants in these delegations.

Typically, women do not accompany heads of state on official visits; however, as Mrs. Hakobyan explained on one occasion, she misses her husband and travels with him to at least have some interaction on the airplane.

You can read the full article in today's issue of the newspaper.