In all the post-Soviet states “kickbacks” sometimes reach a ridiculous level – up to 70%. The point is that the people “in charge of the results” of various programs set their kickback rates. The practice is sometimes almost legalized.

For instance, a foreign company would apply for construction of a monumental complex, and the Yerevan Municipality official in charge openly offers the company to arrange about the kickback before it gets permission. Or Armenia’s Ministry of Culture does not allow a company that wins a contest for renovating a historical and cultural monument to start working as it has not got its “share.”

The newspaper is surprised at a statement by one of Armenian ministers, who said that his protégé company’s failure to win the contest was “a personal insult” to him and did his utmost for the program, which was of high importance for Armenia, to fail. After the organizers had the problem resolved at the presidential level, the minister shamelessly announced his intention to inform the president that the program was sponsored by the opposition.