Prime Minister Cannot Raise Salaries, Officials Must Confirm, Petrosyan

Gevorg Petrosyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia faction in the National Assembly, addressed the media regarding rumors about a potential increase in ministers' salaries.

"I believe it would be appropriate for either the Prime Minister or the press secretary to provide a clear assessment of whether this is correct or not. Because sometimes there appear to be misleading reports. Officials must confirm this. Not denying is something different. Perhaps there has been encouragement, but if salaries have indeed been raised, the Prime Minister cannot do this even with the greatest desire, since Armenia still operates under the law on the remuneration of public service positions adopted in 2013. According to this law, the Prime Minister does not have the right to unilaterally decide, as salary changes are reserved for the National Assembly," he stated.

Addressing the issue of confidentiality, he remarked that what should be kept secret is often disclosed, and vice versa. "I see no reason for secrecy. On the contrary, citizens of Armenia must know what state officials, who receive salaries at their expense, are being compensated for," he added.

Regarding the discussions surrounding Hayk Tokmajyan, Petrosyan underscored the need for caution in expressions. "The first Deputy Prime Minister said there is a political issue there. Tomorrow, they will use this against us, claiming that we are speaking about a political issue concerning the most apolitical body," he concluded.