Opposition lawmakers on Monday accused the Armenian government of misusing and overspending public money on an upcoming UN forum in Yerevan expected to draw thousands of policymakers, business leaders, and environmental advocates from around the world.
They complained about what they see as a lack of financial transparency in the organization of the COP17 Biodiversity Conference, scheduled for October 19-30, during a session of the Armenian parliament.
Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomian could not reveal the total of amount of government spending on the event when he responded to the criticism. He said only that the government transferred about $2.2 million to the COP17 secretariat early this year. Abisoghomian told reporters afterwards that the total sum could be publicized only after the event.
Lena Matevosian, a parliament deputy from the opposition Strong Armenia alliance, said that domestic promotion of the forum alone has cost taxpayers 452 million drams ($1.2 million) channeled into a private entertainment company, Doping Space. The latter was hired without a tender despite its refusal to return about $1.5 million of public funds controversially spent by the government on American pop singer Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Yerevan last year.
“If there was no tender, please explain the criteria you used to select this organization,” said Matevosian. She received no such explanation.
Another Strong Armenia deputy, Liana Manukian, said the government has allocated 290 million drams for conference merchandise, including 16,500 thermoses and as many eco bags. She claimed that many of them have been purchased at inflated prices also carrying corruption risks.
Vahagn Aleksanian, a parliament vice-speaker affiliated with the ruling Civil Contract party, responded by denouncing Strong Armenia’s top leader, billionaire Samvel Karapetian, and his alleged Russian connections. He did not question the veracity of the opposition claims themselves.