Pension increase was driven by fear, not economic growth – Menua Soghomonyan

This is a very important victory and acknowledgment, because that 10,000 dram pension supplement was not given considering economic growth, nor to curb inflation, but rather out of fear, Menua Soghomonyan, a member of the “Hayakve” civic initiative, said during a rally outside the government building, referring to Nikol Pashinyan’s announcement about raising pensions.

“Fear is the main factor for those sitting in this building, which pushed them to take that important step. Fear of the disappointment of our 500,000 citizens, fear that they no longer trust the authorities and will not give them their votes in the upcoming elections. Thus, this step has become a pre-election lifeline for them. They want to turn the problems of our grandparents into a lifeline, but not to give systemic solutions to those problems—just to do something before the elections so that people thank them,” Soghomonyan said.

However, according to him, pensioners should not be grateful for those 10,000 or 5,000 drams, because that money belongs to the citizens of Armenia.

“Secondly, they give you 10,000 drams, but reluctantly. Meanwhile, those sitting in this building receive millions of drams in salaries and bonuses. I want to remind you that only in December each official received a salary, a 13th salary, and bonuses, which on average amounted to about 7 million drams,” Soghomonyan said.