VIDEO: Pashinyan Talks to Members of the 'Alarm' Movement Protesting Outside the National Assembly

Members of the 'Alarm' movement continue their sit-in protest in front of the National Assembly today, June 20. They are opposing the flat income tax rate proposal. The participants of the action insist that they will continue the sit-in until the parliament discusses and votes on the Tax Code.

“We propose establishing a non-taxable threshold at least equal to the cost of the minimum consumer basket, having a four-level progressive tax rate where the first rate should be at least 10 percentage points lower than the second. The second and third rates should be at least 5 percentage points lower than subsequent rates. The first tax rate should apply to income thresholds sufficient to cover the minimum consumer basket for an average family of four. We also demand an increase in the minimum wage to be above the cost of the minimum consumer basket, ideally in the range of 50-60 percent of the average wage,” said one of the protesters.

They hope that even those lawmakers who voted in favor of the proposal during the first reading will oppose it this time. Later, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan approached the protesters, spoke with them, and promised to review the proposal and give his opinion.

It is noteworthy that since yesterday, the members of the 'Alarm' initiative have been holding their sit-in in front of the National Assembly, demanding the cancellation of the income tax flat rate proposed in the Tax Code package. The initiative's members hold banners saying “No to flat tax,” “No to flat service,” and other slogans.