Armenia’s acting PM explains meaning of oligarchy, claims there is no such thing in Armenia anymore

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan clarified today during the rally in Kapan, Armenia’s Syunik province, his claim that there are no oligarchs in Armenia.

“My statement was followed by comments implying some suspicious deals behind it. For so many years the word “oligarchy” was the most popular word in Armenia. What does oligarchy mean? Oligarchy means a small group of people having control of a country or organization. By saying there is no oligarchy, I say there is no control of small people in Armenia. In Armenia we have established the power of people, of many,” he said, adding that it does not mean that those who used to be oligarchs stopped being.

"Their status does not exist anymore. There can be no person in Armenia who will think he is stronger than people, that the power is stronger from people’s power,” Pashinyan stressed.