The Administration of the President of Armenia received no additional funds from state budget

In response to the allegations in some media outlets that at the today’s session of the government it was decided to allocate additional funds for the operational needs of the Presidential Administration, the Presidential Administration informs that commentaries on the alleged decision of the government are results of misunderstanding or intentional distortion. The Administration of the President of Armenia received no additional funds from the state budget.

The agenda of the June 25, 2020 session of the government contained no agenda item on the increase of the expenses for the Presidential Administration approved by the RA state budget for year 2020 or allocation of additional funds. The only decision made pertained to the changes in the procedure for spending the already allocated by the state budget for year 2020 funds, modifying the previously set amounts. The total amount of the funds allocated by the state budget to the Presidential Administration remains the same, once again – it was not increased.

It should be kept in mind that the Presidential Administration, conditioned by the situation with the coronavirus pandemic, has already returned to the state budget previously planned staff bonuses for the second half of year 2020 and funds envisaged for the President’s foreign visits. These funds are close to 152 million AMD. Today’s decision of the government of Armenia will make steps initiated by the Presidential Administration to mitigate social consequence of the coronavirus epidemic in Armenia more functional. These exclusively benevolent, cultural, and social measures will become more targeted and will be carried out in a shorter period of time.

We urge the mass media, especially when it comes to the publications related to the Presidential Administration, to be more careful and objective to avoid any possible misunderstanding. At the same time, the Administration informs that since his election as President of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian has been residing in his own home and not at the lodgings provided by the government. In addition, the President receives no salary – cash or otherwise. The President donates his salary either to the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund or channels it to benevolent programs, including assistance to the socially vulnerable groups or children residing in the border areas. The Presidential Administration has already carried out a number of such events.