Opening a Bank Account Proves Difficult: Dissatisfaction with Pashinyan in Germany

During a meeting in Germany with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Mikayel Minasyan, a representative of the Armenian community, recalled Pashinyan's statement that there are no economic and democratic problems in Armenia. He explained that six months ago, he brought investors from Hong Kong to Armenia to develop exports and tourism, established an organization, but has been unable to open a bank account in Armenian banks for the past six months.

They sent a letter to the Prime Minister regarding the impossibility of opening an account, contacted the Central Bank, and hired a lawyer who indicated that such problems are quite common in Armenia. “Isn’t this a systemic issue or a problem of democracy?” Minasyan asked Pashinyan.

The Prime Minister responded that if a person is unable to open a bank account in Armenia, then it is related to sanctions. “There can be no other explanation,” Pashinyan stated.

Minasyan emphasized that he has no issues himself. Pashinyan commented that he has inquired about several cases where people have been unable to open accounts in Armenia and found that these problems are tied to international sanctions. He promised Minasyan to investigate what issue had occurred in his case.