Opposition councilor slams Yerevan mayor over 7 billion dram project shortfall

Tensions flared at a Yerevan City Council session on Thursday as opposition member Mesrop Manukyan accused Mayor Tigran Avinyan’s administration of failing to deliver on nearly 7 billion drams worth of municipal projects.

Manukyan, a member of the Mother Armenia faction, alleged that funds earmarked for kindergartens and Victory Park had been repeatedly allocated but not executed, and claimed the central government withheld 7 billion drams intended for city programs. He demanded clarity on which projects were left incomplete.

Municipality finance chief Kristine Avetisyan explained that the funds were not transferred because certain projects had not been carried out. She said the largest shortfall was about 4 billion drams tied to the delayed construction of the Isakov-Arshakunyants road.

Avinyan acknowledged bureaucratic setbacks but said the road project was now cleared to begin in April. Manukyan responded sharply, thanking officials for “confirming that 7 billion drams were underperformed” and vowing to deliver a “crushing speech” on accountability.