ArmInfo. The Ministry of Defense of Armenia made unconvincing excuses in connection with the information circulating in the media about the reduction in salaries for contract servicemen.
So, the statement of the Ministry of Defense of RA, in particular, reads: "In connection with the publications, that the General Staff of the Armed Forces decided to deprive contract servicemen of daily food, we consider it necessary to clarify. So, during the war and in the post-war due to the special situation, the circle of people who were provided with free meals by the RA Ministry of Defense was expanding. Now the following persons can receive free meals:
1)Conscript soldiers
2) the personnel of military units involved in combat duty,
3 Officers, non-commissioned officers, contract servicemen and laborers involved in camp training, field tactical exercises, if additional remuneration is not accrued during the period of these events,
4) the entire personnel of military units serving in special conditions, "the RA Ministry of Defense noted.
Against this background, at least, the adopted Draft Law is surprising, which initiated and single-handedly adopted by the My Step bloc, yesterday by the dissolved parliament, in the second and final reading of the draft law on amendments to the Law "On Payments to Civil Servants and Persons Holding State Positions", suggesting increasing the pocket expenses of the MPs from 50 thousand to 250 thousand. Moreover, the MP will not be accountable how these funds were spent.
It is noteworthy that the parties "Bright Armenia" and "Prosperous Armenia" did not participate in the meeting and in the voting.
In the post-war and post-pandemic period, in conditions when the country faced many challenges, including those of a humanitarian nature, the adoption of such bills is at least puzzling. That is, it turns out that the state does not have money for food for contract servicemen, who receive not very high salaries, however, performing such an important function as protecting security and state borders. However, for the MPs, who receive high salaries and have many benefits, the state has "extra money".