“Hetq”: What Property Have the Candidates for the Stepanavan Council of Elders Declared?

Of the 156 candidates participating in the Stepanavan Council of Elders elections, 45 declared that they had no income during the reporting period, while 62 reported having no savings. At the same time, the candidates’ declarations include tens of millions of drams in income, numerous real estate properties, and expensive cars. “Hetq” has examined the declarations submitted to the Central Electoral Commission to determine what assets are held by representatives of the political forces competing to become members of the community’s Council of Elders.

The Civil Contract, Strong Armenia, Businessman, and Republic parties are competing for the position of head of the Stepanavan community. The Homeland party, which had submitted an application to participate in the elections, later withdrew its candidacy.

Arayik Nersisyan, head of the Lori Berd community and the leading candidate on the Civil Contract list, declared 35 million drams and 60 thousand dollars in monetary assets. He owns 37 real estate properties: apartments, private houses, buildings for public and industrial use, garages, and 23 plots of land. Nersisyan also owns six tractors and six cars manufactured in different years. During the reporting period, he received a salary of 4.7 million drams from the Lori Berd Municipality and 1.2 million drams in rental payments from Hunayka LLC.

Arsen Gevorgyan, who heads the Strong Armenia party list, received approximately 37 million drams in income from entrepreneurial activity. The savings listed in his declaration amounted to 2.2 million drams, while he declared no immovable or movable property. Davit Matevosyan, the second candidate on the list, declared 3 million drams, 20 thousand euros, 400 dollars, and 110 thousand rubles. He owns four plots of land, three residential houses, and a livestock building in the village of Gargarr, as well as Range Rover and Ford Transit vehicles.

The Businessman party list is headed by incumbent community head Armen Grigoryan. He received a salary of 6.7 million drams from the municipality. His declaration lists two residential houses in Stepanavan, an apartment in Yerevan’s Kanaker-Zeytun administrative district, a plot of land, an industrial-use building, and a Lexus LX450 vehicle. As of the date of submission of the declaration, Grigoryan had 19.4 million drams. He is also the director of Davq-Grig LLC, from which he received a salary of 1.6 million drams, and 25 million drams in rental payments from NN Holding LLC.

Artak Aleksanyan, who heads the Republic party list, declared 12 million drams and 20 thousand dollars, while simultaneously stating that he is unemployed and has no source of income for the reporting period. He owns a 70% stake in Artur Sole Proprietorship. His twin brother, Armen Aleksanyan, who is the second candidate on the list, declared 30 million drams and 30 thousand dollars. He owns a 1,200-square-metre plot of land, a 300-square-metre livestock barn, and a 2020 Jeep vehicle in Stepanavan.

According to Hetq’s investigation, the candidate who received the highest income was Hayrapet Julhakyan, the 34th candidate on the Civil Contract list, who received 40 million drams from agricultural activity. Arsen Gevorgyan ranks second, with approximately 37 million drams in income, while Armen Grigoryan ranks third, with his declared salary and rental income. Grigoryan is also among the candidates who declared the largest amounts of monetary assets: his funds amounted to 46.8 million drams, 12,400 dollars, 2,200 euros, and 80 thousand rubles.

Overall, 45 of the 156 Council of Elders candidates declared zero income, while 62 had no savings. Only 14 candidates declared monetary assets exceeding 10 million drams. A total of 38% of the candidates are unemployed. This figure is highest on the Strong Armenia party list, at 69%. In the case of the Republic party, it stands at 60%, for Businessman at 29%, and for Civil Contract at 6%.

Strong Armenia leads in terms of the number of candidates, with 51. Civil Contract has nominated 50 candidates, Businessman 35, and Republic 20. The proportion of women represented on the party lists ranges from 30% to 36%. Civil Contract has the highest figure, at 36%, while the Republic party has the lowest, at 30%.

The candidates’ declarations show that the financial situations of representatives of the political forces participating in the Stepanavan Council of Elders elections differ significantly, ranging from individuals declaring zero income to candidates with tens of millions of drams in income and numerous real estate properties. The data presented makes it possible to compare their declared assets, income, and monetary funds, without making assumptions about their origin or legality.