Perhaps everybody has seen the commercial of the new pension reform with participation of the devil and the angel. In that commercial the angel is trying to persuade the public that the more you invest in the pension fund the more the state will invest on your behalf.
The American Forbes has published a rating list entitled “Russia’s real estate kings 2014” with 30 people. This list includes local and foreign businessmen’s names who own commercial real estate properties in Russia. The classification is written in an order of incomes that the owners of real estate businesses could earn from their properties. This list does not include incomes from other businesses. Samvel Karapetyan, head of Tashir holding, is in the second place of this list with $3.8 billion (29th place). His income from rent of properties is estimated at $960 million.
The parliament of Armenia has adopted a bill increasing the number of the Controller Commission members from 7 to 11. Five seats are given to RPA, and one seat to LS and each of the four non-government political parties represented in the parliament. The non-government parties claim that it is unacceptable to give majority in the commission to RPA, and for this reason they do not accept their seats.
There was a moment when Sargsyan was trying to get rid of this bluff but he was soon reminded if he wanted to quit there would be new rules of a game created, and his old friends oligarchs, former presidents wouldn’t leave him in peace, if the Kremlin was annoyed with Sargsyan.
Unfortunately, many of them are not invited to the fancy meetings of Griboyedov club. As of the government then its members are not only members of Griboyedov club but also Putin Club. After the September 3 speech of Sargsyan they just don’t work with a good enthusiasm. Perhaps, this is the reason why they are calling Armenia Putin’s club now.
We wish that Armenia became the country where Shant strived to live in. In the current conditions perhaps this sounds a little crazy for Armenia as Shant would be considered for many others. But if the idea of having a free and sovereign state is crazy then Shant was the craziest citizen. It was his cautious choice. He preferred craziness to servitude…
After joining the Customs Union prices for many products in Armenia will increase. This will affect mainly products that are imported from non-CU countries. For most products imported from third countries the customs fee is maximum 10%, which is considered low. According to the policy of the CU, customs fees are much higher than what Armenia has now.
There is a debate going on about the potential skyrocketing of prices for certain types of products in Armenia after joining the Customs Union.
Today is the 22nd anniversary of Armenia’s army, which is celebrated in conditions of unprecedented skirmish activation at the border. This fact makes people to relate to the celebration of the army day more seriously.
If you look at it from an Azerbaijani perspective, these incidents are one of the main ways that Azerbaijan has to challenge the status quo, and to keep the conflict on the international agenda. So there is a kind of rationality to it, for the party that is unhappy with the status quo and doesn’t see alternatives for changing the situation in other ways.
