Pashinyan's chief of staff reportedly awarded large bonuses to government officials

Senior government officials in Armenia were awarded hefty bonuses ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections, News.5tv.am reported on Friday, citing official documents detailing the payments.

The documents, signed by Arayik Harutyunyan, the chief of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s staff, outline bonus payments to dozens of senior civil servants across ministries and regional administrations.

According to the report, at least 32 government officials received bonuses of no less than 2 million drams (approximately $5,000). Among those listed, Artak Mangasaryan, Secretary General of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, received nearly 4 million drams, while Davit Melikyan, Secretary General of the Unified Social Service (USS), got about 2.43 million drams.

Additional payments cited include approximately 4.5 million drams each to chief secretaries at the Ministries of Defense and Environment, as well as the State Revenue Committee. Chief secretaries at the Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs, Health, and Education, Science, Culture and Sports reportedly received around 4 million drams each.

Bonuses totaling to nearly 4.8 million drams were reportedly paid to chief secretaries of the Ministries of High-Tech Industry and Foreign Affairs.

Regional administrations were also included, with chief secretaries of governor’s offices reportedly receiving bonuses of 2.5 million drams.