Opposition councilor says Yerevan city hall enjoys 'untouchable' status amid corruption claims

The Yerevan Municipality operates under a privileged status that shields it from scrutiny despite repeated corruption allegations, opposition councilor Mesrop Manukyan said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a workshop organized by the AntiCor anti-corruption platform, Manukyan, a member of the opposition Mother Armenia faction, accused the municipal authorities of allowing companies with poor performance records to continue winning public tenders. According to him, one such firm linked to a candidate from the ruling Civil Contract party repeatedly secures contracts despite delivering substandard work.

“Instead of being blacklisted, these companies become frontrunners in state tenders,” Manukyan told reporters, stating that public funds are being wasted while oversight bodies fail to intervene.

He stressed that the Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Oversight Service and the National Security Service should be investigating the matter, but have failed to act, calling it a blatant case of patronage and corruption.

 “As long as the current leadership remains in power, no structure dares to touch the Yerevan Municipality,” he said, adding it enjoys impunity.