Former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan noted that Armenia will sum up the year with 4% economic decline but the government will announce growth.

The ex-prime minister of Armenia, the leader of Azatutyun Party Hrant Bagratyan stated on December 22 that 10% industrial growth reported by the government is a lie.

According to him, the government sells mines and reports it as growth, meanwhile Bagratyan says mines should be counted in the GDP. Bagratyan said mines are exploited unreasonably, while there should be clear industrial on export of each metal per year. According to Bagratyan, shadow economy comprises a tremendous portion of the mining industry."If this continues, no mines will remain in Armenia in ten years." He noted that the Congress will declare its approach on this issue in its environmental program to be released soon. 

Hrant Bagratyan noted that Armenia will sum up the year with 4% economic decline but the government will announce growth. 

Hrant Bagratyan is also very suspicious of the Government’s indicators with respect to agricultural growth. “In line with official data, agriculture had a 15-percent growth, but the population reduced by 3 percent. The prices should have reduced by 18 percent, but, instead, they increased by 12.5 percent,” Bagratyan noted.

Bagratyan dwelt on the parliamentary elections, noting that it will be accompanied by outrageous fraud. At the same time, he assured that after the elections, serious political changes will happen in Armenia. 

Bagratyan also said that Ter-Petrosyan’s speech on the PAP was a brilliant analysis for the RPA and PAP not to clarify relations between each other. 

Bagratyan said that if the election is not rigged, the Armenian National Congress will get 40-45%.