Armenian opposition accuses government of failing on poverty pledge

Armenian opposition figure Aram Vardevanyan has accused the ruling Civil Contract party of failing to deliver on its promise to halve poverty, citing official data that show only a modest decline in recent years.

In a video posted on social media on Friday, Vardevanyan, a member of the Strong Armenia party, said poverty stood at about 27% in 2021 and has since fallen to around 22%. He noted that roughly 30,000 Armenians remain in extreme poverty, arguing that the government has "failed in its mandatory social responsibility".

“The past eight years have been marked by false promises and manipulations,” Vardevanyan said, adding that public welfare is directly tied to Armenia’s sovereignty. He claimed that instead of progress, the authorities have taken the country “in the opposite direction”.

Vardevanyan pointed to businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan’s pledge that extreme poverty should be eradicated in a “strong Armenia”,  with a dedicated foundation to provide targeted support and benefits.

He also warned of demographic risks, citing declining population trends and rising divorce rates as “serious national security threats”.