Local officials in some communities of Armenia’s Armavir Province are having a hard time collecting taxes from those who have large land and property tax liabilities (500 thousand AMD or more).

Those who aren’t paying include former MPs, sons of deputies, as well as corporations.

As of December 31, 2019, data on debtors has been published on the Armavir   Administration's website. As a result, land tax and penalties for individuals and legal entities with large tax liabilities in the region amount to AMD 205 million, and property tax arrears and penalties – 222.6 million.

Armen Hakobyan, son of former MP Hakob Hakobyan, owes about AMD 3.584 million in property tax to the Etchmiadzin Municipality.

Hakob Hakobyan told Hetq that the car in question, a Bentley Continental, was destroyed in a fire years ago.

“That car does not exist. The police know about it. Let them check whether the vehicle was used or not. I don't know what the debts are for,” Hakob Hakobyan said.

Hakob Hakobyan's brother, also named Armen, owns buildings in the Norakert community of the province. Arrears on said real estate, including penalties, amount to AMD 5.352 million.

"My brother died. There is no legal successor to make payments," Hakob Hakobyan said, adding that he didn’t know how the debts could be erased.

 Former MP Arakel Movsisyan owes AMD 1.732 million in car property tax to the Aygek community.

Former Prosperous Armenia Party MP Rustam Gasparyan owes AMD 2.3million on his Mercedes GL 450.

Rustam Gasparyan has a "habit" of not paying the car tax.

In 2016, Hetq wrote that the Armavir Municipality took Gasparyan to court over tax debts.

Hetq attempted to reach Gasparyan by telephone on the matter. He either never picked up or was unavailable.

The Etchmiadzin Caning Factory owes the municipality AMD 7 million.

Last October, the municipality approved a decision to seize AMD 2.425 million from the plant as partial payment. The company has since gone to court to appeal the decision.

The Etchmiadzin Bread Company, owned by former MP Manvel Grigoryan, owes AMD 2.125million in taxes.

Municipality decisions to recoup what’s owed have proved fruitless.

Even former Etchmiadzin Mayor Hrachik Abgaryan, who served from 2002 to 2005, has a debt to the municipality.

Abgaryan owes AMD 1.295 in property tax and penalties.