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Yerevan Mayor’s Salary to Increase to AMD 2 Million
Yerevan, October 13, 2026 – The Yerevan City Council has approved a significant salary increase for the city’s mayor, raising the monthly remuneration from AMD 1.32 million to AMD 2 million. This represents an increase of AMD 760,000. The decision was made during a City Council session, where a proposal for the salary hike for both the mayor and administrative district heads was put to a vote.
The draft resolution was initially proposed to be discussed as a reporting item, but following a vote, it was decided to keep it within the package of non-reporting issues. The final vote saw 36 council members in favor, 17 against, and 6 abstentions, leading to the approval of the salary increase.
Details of the Salary Adjustment
The approved increase impacts not only the mayor but also the heads of the administrative districts. While specific figures for the district heads’ salary increases were not immediately detailed in the provided information, the general approval suggests a broader adjustment across top municipal positions.
The decision comes amidst ongoing public discussions and various other news items concerning municipal governance, financial transparency, and public services in Yerevan. Recent reports from “Hraparak” and “Zhoghovurd” newspapers, as well as Civilnet.am, have highlighted issues such as pre-election ‘clean-ups’ by Avinyan’s team, questions surrounding the ‘Hrazdan Cement’ deal, and controversies related to Avinyan’s travel expenses and the organization of car parks.
Public and Political Reaction
The approval of such a substantial salary increase is likely to draw significant attention and debate, especially in light of other pressing issues facing the city and its residents. The opposition factions within the City Council had proposed a more detailed discussion of the matter, indicating a level of contention surrounding the decision.
The context of this decision includes other related publications, such as discussions on when and how the salaries of the mayor and administrative district heads will increase, as well as calls for the use of surveillance devices to punish violations and enforce fines, as suggested by Avinyan himself. Additionally, there have been reports on the city’s administration’s alleged lack of information regarding its own construction permits and the ‘beautiful’ reels of Avinyan amidst municipal scandals.
The move also follows a period where the city’s financial management has been under scrutiny, with reports on how state funds are being spent, including urgent single-source procurements and contracts without tenders. These broader issues provide a backdrop against which the mayor’s salary increase will be viewed by the public and political observers.
The decision to raise the mayor’s salary by such a considerable margin underscores the ongoing complexities and sometimes controversial nature of municipal governance in Yerevan.
