Nikol Pashinyan`s initiative on studying officials` sources of income rejected
ArmInfo.Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs of National Assembly rejected the initiative of oppositionist MP Nikol Pashinyan about establishing a parliamentary commission for studying the sources of income and property of officials and people related to them to reveal their lawfulness.
Nikol Pashinyan brought as a reason the fact that although officials and people related to them present income declarations, however there are no mechanisms to check accuracy of information contained in the documents. "People have the right to know how this or that official has built massive wealth. For example there are rumors that the second President Robert Kocharyan has built wealth amounting to $4 bln. There are rumors about wealth of former Finance Minister Gagik Khachatryan, I am convinced that these are not just rumors. Or former Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan has managed to gain $2 mln, by growing tomatoes, while other villagers who also grow the same vegetables are deep in debt", the MP noted.
However, MPs from ruling Republican Party proposed to present the draft after the elections as authorities of National Assembly will expire soon. Pashinyan did not agree to that he proposed to study the income and property of not only officials but also their relatives and even mothers in law. Republican MP Levon Martirosyan noted that love mates of officials should also be included on the list.