Pashinyan denies favoritism in business customs privileges

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that the government’s customs privileges for businesses in priority sectors are being applied fairly and without bias. He denied reports that allegedly such privileges are granted only to businesses linked to his administration.

“Thousands of businesspeople have received this benefit, including those connected to the opposition as well as those who are not. This mechanism has been in place since 2016 and operates automatically. Businesspeople submit their data and apply for the benefit, and if the information provided is accurate, the Government does not have the right to deny it,” Pashinyan said at a press briefing.

The Prime Minister added that companies owned by businesspeople with links to his administration account for only 2–3 percent of those receiving these privileges.

Pashinyan ruled out the possibility that there are any opposition MPs or political figures whose at least one friend or relative has not benefited from the government-provided customs privilege mechanism in priority sectors.