«I am a native and this is my city»: Campaign on Facebook Against Property Tax Increase Law

Armenian political and public figures, actors, and musicians have launched a campaign on Facebook against the law on increasing property taxes.

People's Artist of Armenia Grant Tjokhatyan wrote, "Dear native Yerevanians, if you do not raise your voice about your rights now, tomorrow you may be forced to give up your apartments and houses. This is a new 'form' of expropriation of inherited real estate. Think about your children's future. The new property tax law will impoverish native Yerevan residents. I am a native and this is my city."

Political technologist Karen Kocharyan also shared Tjokhatyan's post on his Facebook page. NA Prosperous Armenia faction MP Naira Zohrabyan wrote, "I join the flash mob, 'The new property tax law will impoverish native Yerevan residents.'"

Others joining the flash mob include journalist and TV commentator Artyom Yerkanyan, musician Vahan Artzruni, journalist Mark Grigoryan, doctor Nune Nersisyan, and musician Vazgen Asatryan.

It is recalled that on June 24, the National Assembly adopted on first reading the government's proposed bill to amend the Tax Code, which suggests transitioning from a system of calculating property tax obligations based on cadastral values to a system based on market value approximations. The proposal includes establishing new scales for property tax assessment and introducing new rates for certain property units, while also abolishing non-taxable thresholds set for apartments and residential houses, allowing for a tax rate of 0.05% for property units valued up to 10 million drams for apartments and up to 7 million drams for residential houses.