Politics 14:44 20/12/2022 Armenia

ANIF head Tigran Avinyan's simultaneous appointment as deputy Yerevan mayor controversial – Pastinfo

The Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF), a state-owned enterprise, is all mixed up. The full responsibility for the elimination of the consequences of Tigran Avinyan's simultaneous holding of two positions has apparently been shifted onto the ANIF, Pastinfo reports, adding the government's actions “give every reason to suppose that the simultaneous appointment of Avinyan, Chairman of the ANIF Board of Directors, as Deputy Mayor of Yerevan is highly controversial.”

Under Clause 8 of Article 48 of the law on local self-government in Yerevan, a deputy mayor may not engage in entrepreneurial activities, hold any other position in state or local self-government bodies or commercial organizations or carry out other paid work, except for scientific, pedagogical and creative activity.

Whereas, the Armenian National Interests Fund is a state-owned enterprise which aims to “co-invest alongside top global investors and industrial partners in large-scale projects in Armenia.”

The fund was set up by the government in 2019, and Tigran Avinyan is the chairman of the ANIF Board of Directors, according to data on its official website. Moreover, he is vested with executive powers, since, according to the website data, the Board of Directors is in charge of the ANIF.

“On November 28, Pastinfo news website published an article entitled "Tigran Avinyan's tenure as deputy mayor is illegal: he holds two incompatible positions simultaneously", which revealed the incompatibility of the positions he holds. Incidentally, prior to the news release, Pastinfo tried to get an oral explanation from the ANIF about whether or not the members of the Board of Directors receive salaries, however the oral request was ignored. Later on November 25, we submitted a query to the ANIF to find out who sets the staffing table and salaries of the company, what legal or normative acts they refer to, whether the board director and its members receive fixed salaries, whether there is a salary waiver in the Board of Directors and whether the board director is planned to be replaced in the near future,” Pastinfo writes.

“Only after our report on November 29, the ANIF hastened to say that Avinyan does not receive any salary, without properly responding to our request. Later on November 30, we received a response from the ANIF saying the staffing table is determined by the decision of its Board of Directors.

"At the same time, it is worth noting that the organization does not set pay rates for its employees and members of the Board of Directors. We would also like to inform you that the chairman's possible replacement was not discussed at the last meeting of the Board of Directors," the ANIF said, leaving the other questions unanswered. The ANIF’s response makes it clear that Avinyan is not engaged in creative or advisory activities and the deputy Yerevan mayor runs another company," the report says.

Pastinfo submitted a similar query to the Ministry of Economy, at the same time requesting the government agency to provide a copy of the ANIF charter given the changes made in it by the ministry.

“However, the ministry, perhaps realizing the seriousness of the matter, refused to provide the charter and answer the question whether any of the board members gave away their salaries. The ministry only said that the ANIF was set up by a 2019 government decision, which is known to us all, and asked us to contact the government to get a copy of the charter,” the news outlet said, adding the latter, in turn, asked Pastinfo to contact the prime minister’s office. Pastinfo also submitted a query to the PM’s office, which forwarded it to the ANIF.

"The refusal to provide information leads to the conclusion that the government and the enterprise under its supervision really have something to hide and are trying to cover up corrupt practices through information blockade,” Pastinfo stated.

Incidentally, Varuzhan Hoktanyan, programs director at the Transparency International's Armenian affiliate, the Anti-Corruption Center (ACC), also sees corruption risks in Tigran Avinyan’s appointment as deputy mayor of Yerevan while heading the ANIF. He told Pastinfo that “corruption risks do exist, but what matters is whether or not they have evolved into a corruption offence.”

“Pastinfo is considering taking legal action to oblige the competent authorities to provide data which obviously does not amount to state secrets, including the charter, the staffing table, as well as the scope of functions of the Board of Directors members," it said.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:02
Footballer killed by lightning strike at match in Peru
A football player in Peru has died and more have suffered injuries after being struck by lightning during a match on Sunday afternoon, the Daily...
16:46
On the trail of a post about Lori shared by Georgian president
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili shared on Facebook a post by a Georgian travel agency offering tours to Armenia’s Lori Province on...
16:05
Parliament speaker names ruling party's candidate for Gyumri mayor
Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party has picked Karen Sarukhanyan, a former governor of Shirak Province, as its candidate for the next...
15:42
Pashinyan criticized for failure to congratulate Moldova's president on re-election
Artur Sakunts, a human rights activist who heads the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly-Vanadzor, on Monday criticized Prime Minister Nikol...
15:07
Car crash in Armenia leaves one dead, three wounded
A tragic car crash in Armenia’s Aragatsotn Province on Monday left one person killed and three others injured. The Rescue Service...
14:36
Yerevan mayor says his 'good looks' could make him a target for corruption rumors
Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan denied allegations of corrupt practices involving him as defamation.  “I guess my good looks...
14:14
Putin to accept credentials from new Armenian envoy on Tuesday
Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive the letters of credence from 28 newly arrived foreign ambassadors, including Armenian...
13:45
Legendary music producer Quincy Jones dies at 91
Quincy Jones, a titan of American entertainment who worked with stars from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson and Will Smith, has died aged...
13:30
Rain expected in some parts of Armenia on Monday
Rain is forecast for some parts of Armenia on Monday, with snow set to hit the country’s mountainous areas. Clear weather is expected...
13:04
At least 10 killed after volcano erupts in Indonesia
At least 10 people have been killed after a volcano erupted in eastern Indonesia in the early hours of Monday, BBC News reports, citing local...
12:46
ICRC visits Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan
Employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan in October this year....
12:26
Spanish king pelted with eggs in flood-hit Valencia
Angry residents booed and threw eggs at Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia as they visited the Valencia region, where more than 200...
12:10
Political analyst: Azerbaijan sitting on the twine
Political analyst Stepan Danielyan has weighed in on the latest developments regarding the Ukraine conflict. In a social media post on...
11:35
Tatoyan Foundation working to expose Azerbaijan's lies about Artsakh
Specialists of the Tatoyan Foundation are doing extensive work to expose the false Azerbaijani narratives about Armenia and Artsakh...
11:16
Maia Sandu wins second term in Moldovan presidential election
Moldova's pro-Western incumbent president Maia Sandu has won a second term in a pivotal presidential runoff against a Russia-friendly...
11:00
Trump reiterates support for Artsakh Armenians in phone call with Catholicos Aram I
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump on Friday phoned His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of...
17:13
Public figure accuses Armenian authorities of attempting to intimidate him
Public figure Hovhannes Avetisyan, an expert in public finance management, accused the Armenian authorities of repression and crackdown on their...
16:34
Iran's supreme leader threatens Israel and US with 'crushing response'
Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday threatened Israel and the U.S. with “a crushing response” over attacks on Iran and its...
16:15
Armenia offers condolences to Serbia over tragic collapse at railway station
Armenia has extended condolences to Serbia following the tragic collapse at a railway station, which killed at least 14 people and...
16:00
Armenian lifter Alexander Lazaryan crowned junior European champion
Armenian weightlifter Alexander Lazaryan bagged a gold medal at the European Junior and U23 Championships being held in Raszyn, Poland, from...
15:36
Spiritual leaders urged to raise awareness on injustice against Artsakh Armenians ahead of COP29
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia, His Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI of the Armenian Catholic...
15:00
Showers possible in Yerevan on Sunday
Clear weather is expected in Armenia on Saturday and later next week. Rain is forecast for some parts of the country on Sunday and Monday,...
14:35
Catholicos Aram I, Ocampo discuss issues related to Artsakh
Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), on Friday contacted His Holiness Catholicos Aram I by...
13:53
Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan reportedly targeted for UFC 311 on January 18
Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan rematch is the only fight that makes sense in the lightweight division at the moment. The champ is running...
13:27
Armenian Genocide denial risks new tragedies, MP warns
Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan blasted Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan’s latest genocide remarks as dangerous for Armenia’s...
12:46
Urgent action needed to safeguard integrity of COP29 as fossil fuel influence looms large in Baku, report warns
We are days away from the start of COP29 in Azerbaijan. After previous hosts Egypt and the UAE, many had hoped for a more promising (and less...
12:30
Armenian church marks Feast of All Saints
The Armenian Apostolic Church on Saturday celebrates the Feast of All Saints, also called All Saints' Day. The day...
12:01
Paris Masters: Khachanov through to semi-finals
Russian-Armenian Karen Khachanov won against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the No 8 seed, 6-2, 6-3 to move into the last four of Paris Masters at...
11:30
Analysis: Aliyev's daughters reportedly control business empire worth over $13 billion
Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at the Middle East...
11:00
Armenia's Milena Khachatryan wins silver at U23 European Championships
Armenian weightlifter Milena Khachatryan grabbed a silver medal at the European Junior and U23 Championships being held in Raszyn, Poland, from...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}