"Zhoghovurd" daily writes: "Zhoghovurd" daily newspaper studied how the property of Zaruhi Batoyan, deputy of the "Civil Agreement" faction, former Minister of Social Affairs, changed after the 2018 revolution. It is noteworthy that Zaruhi Batoyan will also be represented in the new parliament. Since 2018, the funds declared by Zaruhi Batoyan, deputy of the "Civil Agreement" faction, former minister, have increased from the initial 500 thousand drams and 335 euros to more than 13.1 million drams.
The scandals and sensational stories surrounding Zaruhi Batoyan
During Zaruhi Batoyan's tenure, a number of scandalous stories came to the attention of the media and law enforcement agencies. The first of them was related to the failure to declare income in the 2018 annual declaration. The Corruption Prevention Commission imposed an administrative penalty on the minister and fined him AMD 200,000 for carelessly submitting incorrect or incomplete data. The Ministry clarified that it was a technical error, as the system allowed not to fill in that field, but the Commission reaffirmed the mandatory nature of all fields and provided 7 working days after paying the fine to fill in the income in the amount of AMD 7,515,233 in the declaration. Another major scandal was related to personnel policy and possible patronage. "Zhoghovurd" daily wrote back in 2019 that "Being guided by the principle of brother-in-law-acquaintance-friend causes a problem." RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made such a statement more than once. However, it turns out that the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Zaruhi Batoyan, did not perceive his words very well or correctly. Minister Batoyan appointed Stepan Machyan, who is the brother of his sister's husband, Tegr, as the head of the financial, economic and accounting department of the ministry, as well as the acting general secretary of the staff.
In addition, he appointed the representatives of the NGO "Bridge of Hope", which he previously led, to various positions. Later, Stepan Machyan was transferred to the "Road Department" SNOC, then he was appointed deputy mayor of Yerevan, but he was at the center of a corruption scandal. He was charged with the article of abuse of official authority, which caused serious consequences, for the abuses committed in the process of providing housing for the elderly and vulnerable people in the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development. Another sensational story was the disclosure of cases of adoption of children by foreigners in gross violation of RA legislation by the National Social Security Agency. The former director of the NSS, Artur Vanetsyan, noted that Zaruhi Batoyan supported them in uncovering systemic corruption phenomena, while news circulated in the media about the adoption of one of the children by Italian referee Pierluigi Colina. Batoyan clarified that there are no employees of the ministry among those arrested, and the problem is systemic, which requires raising parents' awareness.
His public statements and thoughts were also regularly quoted in the press, such as: "Politics. when the last hope of kissing on the street in front of everyone fades."
Change in property, income and financial resources after taking office
In 2018-2019, Zaruhi Batoyan held the position of Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, and in 2019-2020, the position of Minister. On June 20, 2021, he was elected a member of the National Assembly on the list of the "Civil Contract" party.
2018 year2018
When assuming the post of deputy minister in 2011, Batoyan declared a financial measure of 945 thousand drams: 500 thousand drams and 335 euros, and a salary of 887 thousand drams. In the annual declaration submitted three months later, his funds increased by 3 million 460 thousand drams, becoming 4 million 404 thousand drams, and 7 million 515 thousand 233 drams were filled in the omitted income field after the fine.
Year 2019
At the beginning of 2019, the minister had 500 thousand drams, which at the end of the year became 8 million 533 thousand drams, 335 euros and 500 US dollars. His annual income exceeded 20 million drams, of which 17 million 967 thousand 770 drams were wages, 320 thousand drams were income from civil law contracts, 540 thousand drams were pensions, and around 1 million 253 thousand drams were donations or aid.
2021 in the 2021 annual statement
Zaruhi Batoyan mentioned one apartment purchased in 2014 in the Kanaker-Zeytun administrative district of Yerevan. At the beginning of the year, his bank accounts contained 500 dollars, 335 euros, 578 thousand 900 drams, which increased to 1 million 518 thousand 550 drams at the end of the year, and 4 million 750 thousand drams, which decreased to 3 million 192 thousand 500 drams at the end of the year. The total income was 4 million 188 thousand 285 drams, of which 3 million 186 thousand 840 drams was the salary of the National Assembly, 883 thousand 200 drams was the pension, and the rest was other incomes and contractual fees. He spent 965 thousand drams for renting the property.
Year 2022
During 2022, the ownership of the apartment was preserved. 1 million 518 thousand 550 drams in bank accounts decreased to 19 thousand 233 drams at the end of the year, and 3 million 192 thousand 500 drams in the other account increased to 10 million 404 thousand 444 drams. 500 dollars and 335 euros remained unchanged. The annual income was 8 million 605 thousand 831 drams, of which 7 million 872 thousand drams was the salary of the National Assembly, 483 thousand 800 drams was the pension, and the rest was bank interest and other income.
Year 2023
In 2023, Batoyan continued to own the same apartment. 10 million 404 thousand 444 drams in the bank account became 12 million 36 thousand 537 drams at the end of the year. The total income was 11 million 327 thousand 539 drams, of which 10 million 107 thousand 843 drams was the National Assembly salary, 587 thousand 936 drams was the pension, 559 thousand drams was the income received from "Ardshinbank", and 72 thousand 760 drams was the fee received from the international forum.
Year 2024
In 2024, the funds of the deputy in the main dram account increased from 12 million 36 thousand 537 drams to 15 million 435 thousand drams, and the euro account decreased from 335 to 301. The annual income was 11 million 566 thousand 643 drams, of which 10 million 192 thousand 344 drams were NA salaries, 564 thousand 480 drams were pensions, and the rest were other incomes. Batoyan declared the expenditure of 2 million 500 thousand drams for the repair of the apartment. Aghavnik Altunyan, who lives with him, acquired a 50 percent stake in "ZARTPRINT" company from 2022.
Year 2025
According to the annual declaration of 2025, Zaruhi Batoyan continues to be the sole owner of her apartment in Kanaker-Zeytun. During the year, his bank funds decreased. foreign currency accounts became 0, and the main dram account became 13 million 145 thousand 293 drams from 15 million 435 thousand drams. The total annual income was 14 million 92 thousand 222 drams, of which 12 million 855 thousand 525 drams is the NA salary, 601 thousand 735 drams is the income of "Ardshinbank", 564 thousand 480 drams is the pension, and 70 thousand 482 drams is other income from the Unified Social Service. During the year, the deputy made other one-time expenses of 8 million drams. He is a member of the "Civil Contract" party and the "Disability and Inclusive Development" organization.
