ArmInfo. "The cash issue needs to be resolved. Why do we need cash? What do people do with cashless money? They give bribes, engage in shadow trading," as stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a regular meeting on December 18. He also instructed the head of the State Revenue Committee "to find a way to close stores" that offer discounts for cash payments.
After spending over an hour reading from a paper how many roads have been repaired under subsidy programs, the Prime Minister decided to thank the taxpayers who finance these works with their taxes. He pointed out that the list should include citizens who provide receipts and those who don't forget to request them. "Especially since there are many, many more people who forget to request receipts," he noted.
He then turned to the head of the State Revenue Committee, Eduard Hakobyan, asking about the state treasury's tax revenue situation. "It's quite good," the chief tax official told the prime minister. "The double- digit growth we regularly discuss is continuing and is nearing the program target," Hakobyan continued.
As for the number of cash register receipts, according to the head of the State Revenue Committee, the situation is also quite good - the number has increased by approximately 18%, and revenue by 11%. "It's encouraging that the volume of non-cash trade has grown - the number of receipts issued for non-cash transactions has increased by 52%, and revenue has grown by 31%," he noted.
"I have bad news for you. On that day, when people from the Prime Minister's office went shopping, they were told the cash price would be different. How is this possible? And this is in the center of Yerevan. Close this store. Find a way to close this store. I will check. I will personally take responsibility. I will visit this store daily and check. This store must not reopen until I give my permission," Pashinyan declared. He called for the same attitude towards any other businesses that dare to disobey him.
The head of the Armenian Cabinet is convinced that there is nothing so positive that cannot be done with non-cash money, and birthday gifts can be given without cash as well (the money can be transferred directly to the birthday person's account using the app).
