When Armenian government officials (ministers, MPs, etc) file their annual financial disclosures, they are also obligated to report the revenue and assets of family members.

According to the 2012 disclosure filed by Minister of Transport and Communication Minister Gagik Beglaryan, the wealthiest wife of all Armenia’s ministers is his spouse Nouneh Nikolyan. 

Her revenues for the year amounted to 8 million AMD ($20,000 U.S.)

Nikolyan’s bank deposits amounted to much more – 35.5 million AMD and $3.601 million U.S. In 2011, these amounts were 11.5 million AMD and $3.631 million U.S.

The couple’s son Hrant, showed no revenue for 2012.  Nevertheless, he had bank deposits of 71.5 million AMD and $718,000 U.D.

Before being appointed transport minister in June 2012, Gagik Beglaryan served as Yerevan mayor for a year and a half.

He resigned as mayor in December 2010, after assaulting an official who had asked his wife to give up her seat reserved for the Catholicos at a Placido Domingo concert.