Yerevan councilor claims city overpaid 60 million drams for diesel fuel

A member of the Yerevan City Council has alleged that the Municipality overpaid nearly 60 million drams ($150,000) for diesel fuel, calling on law enforcement to investigate possible misuse of public funds.

Councilor Mesrop Manukyan said in a livestream on Friday that Yerevan Bus CJSC purchased 500,000 liters of diesel on May 6 through a single-source procurement at 545 drams per liter. He argued the price was significantly above both retail pump rates of 510–520 drams and wholesale market levels, which he said are typically 15–20% lower.

“This means the city paid at least 120 drams more per liter, costing taxpayers the equivalent of one new bus,” Manukyan stated.

He also pointed to earlier procurements, alleging that bus fare validator devices were bought at 130,000 drams each, compared with a market price of 30,000–35,000 drams. Manukyan claimed the supplier was linked to a relative of a senior government official, though the claim has not been independently verified.

Accusing officials from the ruling Civil Contract party of corruption, he urged Armenia’s National Security Service and Prosecutor’s Office to treat his remarks as a formal complaint. “They are looting the people while blaming others,” he said, adding that despite billions in state borrowing, no new kindergartens had been built in Yerevan.