Tsarukyan warns: Inadequate response to social discontent in Armenia  will provoke internal instability

ArmInfo. Armenia is currently facing a surge of serious social discontent that demands a proper  response to prevent potential internal instability, as stated by Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia party and a prominent businessman.

He highlighted several key challenges  that the country's population  is currently grappling with, including rising transportation costs, a  fourfold increase in property taxes, a significant increase in  garbage collection fees, difficulties in selling meat and animal fur  in the regions, and  more.  Tsarukyan emphasized the importance of  engaging in meaningful discussions with professional groups and the  public before implementing any changes. The politician noted that in  reality such discussions have either been lacking or superficial,  leading to wide spread protest sentiments among citizens. In this  regard, the party leader called for a halt to the current processes.  He noted the need to conduct transparent calculations and thoroughly  study the best practices from other countries.

Speaking of the increase in  general taxation on services of  notaries, lawyers and accountants, Tsarukyan recalled that in such  conditions, specialists will be compelled to raise their prices. "  Given that the only source of income for these service providers is  ordinary citizens, this will result in services  becoming  unaffordable for a certain segment of the population".  Reacting to  the increase in turnover tax from 5 to 10%, the entrepreneur warned  that this could lead to the bankruptcy of many businesses  "Calculations indicate that many businesses will be forced to shut  down, leaving people unemployed. Is this what we want? Unfortunately,  this does not depend on our desire, this is just a business governed  by laws and simple calculations," Tsarukyan continued.

According to the businessman, it is impossible to label something as  "reform" if it harms all participants in the business environment.

He believes that this will not only lead to social difficulties, but  also to upheavals and changes in the real estate and rental market,  the consequences of which are very difficult to predict. In this  regard, Tsarukyan proposed maintaining the current level of real  estate tax and postponing the final stage of increase for at least  3-5 years, until the general social background in the country  stabilizes and people adapt to the new conditions, reconsider their  expenses and incomes. Otherwise, in his opinion, this "time crunch"  will not yield any positive results.