Armenian foreign minister faces criticism over luxury vest

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, a leading member of the ruling Civil Contract party, has come under fire after being spotted wearing a vest worth more than 2 million Armenian drams, a sum equivalent to nearly four years of an average pension in the country.

During a weekend campaign event, Mirzoyan appeared in a Brunello Cucinelli quilted wool vest, a luxury Italian brand known for its elite clientele. Online retailers list the garment at $5,955 (around 2.2 million drams), past.am reported.

The media outlet has seized on the image, contrasting Mirzoyan’s current lifestyle with his past. Before entering government, he was described as financially constrained, reportedly unable to purchase a television on instalments. Now, however, reports suggest he has acquired real estate worth 112 million drams, while his wife, Gohar Abajyan, purchased a 2024 BMW from a German dealership for nearly €40,000.