That Which is Given for Free in Batumi is Sold for $20 Million in Armenian Town: Sociologist

Even parking attendants paid 100 drams per car are required to provide a receipt, which is ridiculous, said sociologist Aharon Adibekyan, speaking to journalists in Yerevan today.

“Around the world, small business provides 85% of the workforce and governments are fighting against unemployment with this. Our research findings in 2010 uncovered that 14% of families emigrated from Armenia due to business closure or losing employment,” he said.

On the matter of unfavorable conditions for investment, Adibekyan said: “There was program to develop tourism on the site of the unbuilt Yeghvard reservoir. There was already an agreement; it only remained to alienate the land as non-industrial land. The area was assessed at $40 million. To the same project developer the mayor of [the Georgian seaside resort city of] Batumi gives 2 hectares of land free of charge, in any area in Batumi on the condition that he build a site for tourism.

“In Ghrer, the area is valued at $40 million and sold for $20 million, while in a seaside city like Batumi the land is provided free of charge. This is why Georgia is in 27th place it terms of being favorable [for investment], while Armenia is in 49th place.”