Justice Minister Doesn’t Know How Much President’s Brother Earns from Speed Cameras

The speed limit enforcement cameras installed in Yerevan must be removed and an investigation launched to expose corruption in this sector, said Armenian National Congress MP Nikol Pashinyan in parliament on Wednesday.

During the question and answer period with the Armenian government, Pashinyan said that in 2013 alone Armenian drivers paid 13.5 billion AMD (about $32,702,700 USD) in speeding fines because of cameras. The opposition MP called this racketeering. 

"It's obvious that this is being done for the sake of emptying people's pockets. [The sector] is managed by [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan's brother's company Security Dream and the police," he said.

Responding to Pashinyan, RA Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan said, according to the same logic, all taxes are state racketeering. 

When asked how much money Serzh Sargsyan's brother, Alexander Sargsyan, earned, Tovmasyan said: "How the money was spent is on the police's website: for APPA [compulsory automobile liability insurance], installing road signs, purchasing transport, and one part of the sum covered the cost of awards. As for how much of an income Serzh Sargsyan's brother has, I can't say — just as I don't know how much income you have."

Note, the media has repeatedly reported that Security Dream, according to the signed contract with police, earns 70% of the profits from speeding fines (30% goes to the Armenian government).