Home / Armenia / MP to Agriculture Minister: ‘You are Not Subsidizing Villagers, but Flash’ Gas Importer

MP to Agriculture Minister: ‘You are Not Subsidizing Villagers, but Flash’ Gas Importer

Villagers of Armavir marz (province) were given poor-quality diesel fuel, said head of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) parliamentary faction Levon Zurabyan during discussion of the amount to be allocated from the 2014 state budget to the RA Ministry of Agriculture, while speaking about the problems of the residents affected by the hail in Armavir.

"You're not subsidizing the villager, but Flash," said the opposition MP, referring to Barsegh Beglaryan, president of Flash LLC, one of the largest importers of gasoline in Armenia, who is known by the moniker "Flash's Barsegh".

RA Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan observed that Zurabyan most likely spoke with villagers who are HAK supporters, since the remaining villagers are happy with the help they received: the diesel fuel was purchased from "the highest quality importer," he said. 

Recall, a resident of the village of Haykavan in Armavir marz, Hovhannes Hakobyan, told Epress.am earlier that the residents are refusing the poor-quality donated diesel fuel, as tractor owners fear it might damage the engine.  

"The given diesel fuel is the color of rust — not blue or yellow, as in the case of normal diesel fuel," Hakobyan said. According to him, villagers are also unhappy with how the aid is being distributed. 

Hakobyan is concerned of the risk of corruption, as the fuel is not being distributed according to hectares of land owned by each villager. 

Photo credit: Panorama.am