2024-04-19 21:51:36
17 million drams were allocated from the state funds to the company of newly-known businessman Narek Nalbandian for the services rendered for the holding of the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council months ago. The state procurement was carried out without a tender, “Hetk” writes.
The session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council was held on August 24 and 25 of this year, the venue of which was the former “Golden Palace” hotel in Tsaghkadzor.
The protocol service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded the state purchase contract with the “Poyect Inter-Invest” SP company owned by Nalbandian. For the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, the lobby, reception and 3 halls of the hotel were rented, one of which is intended for large events.
The selection of the hotel was made without competition. Inna Torgomyan, acting as the head of the Department of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Foreign Ministry, informed that the expenses of the officials who came to Armenia at the invitation of the President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs are reimbursed by a different procedure. According to the government’s decision, in the case of such invitations, the expenses are calculated and paid according to the actual expenses incurred. Simply put, after the event is held, the organizations that provided the service present invoices, based on which payment is made.
A question arises: how was the venue of the meeting of the intergovernmental council chosen and why did the foreign policy department give preference to the hotel of the new businessman? The hotel, which Narek Nalbandian bought from the state on preferential terms, and it is difficult to pay its money on time.
“The choice of the mentioned event venue was due to the fact that the given hotel has the necessary building conditions for organizing such a large-scale event: a large meeting hall, an appropriate hall for the official reception ceremony, an appropriate area for the press center and so on. From the point of view of security of the area, the hotel is also in a favorable position,” explained the MFA official.