ArmInfo.As of now, there is no decision yet on the candidacy of a new Minister of Economy. Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gevorg Papoyan told reporters on February 19.
According to him, this issue was not discussed in the ruling Civil Contract party, but will be discussed. As for Papoyan's candidacy for the post of minister, he said that he did not receive such a proposal. "I work in parliament, I take part in the work of the committee. I want to assure you that work as head of the committee is no less responsible than as a minister. For this reason, I am surprised by these kinds of statements, since we are talking about equal shares of responsibility in the implementation of important and the necessary work," the parliamentarian assured.
Earlier the Investigative Committee of Armenia opened a criminal case against former Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan, who had previously resigned. "A criminal case has been initiated against Vahan Kerobyan," noted the Investigative Committee, without specifying the details of the accusation. Apparently, the case concerns corruption revelations in the Ministry of Economy.
At the end of January, the Armenian security forces opened a criminal case on corruption in the Ministry of Economy and arrested one of Kerobyan's deputies.
Subsequently, the court chose house arrest as a preventive measure against the former minister. Kerobyan himself publicly expressed disagreement with the actions of the security forces, declaring his intention to appeal the court's decision.