The Ministry of Environment of Armenia has allocated 106,566,180 drams to Doping Space LLC, a well-known provider of large state purchases, for the implementation of BTL activations and experiential marketing services within the framework of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which is concluding in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. Armenian News-NEWS.am learned about this by examining the agreement signed between the Ministry of Environment and Doping Space LLC on October 8.

In particular, according to the appendix, with this amount, the Rotating Butterfly installation was installed on downtown Yerevan's Northern Avenue, the cost of which was 24 million drams, the Butterfly Swing installation (cost: 24.9 million drams), four branded modern bus stops in provincial cities (cost: 37.3 million drams), two Nature Constructor interactive activations in the parks adjacent to the TUMO Center and Nairi Zaryan Street (cost: 13.2 million drams) in Yerevan, as well as a special bench with a logo design was installed in Yerevan's Khachkar (Cross-Stone) Park, the cost of which was not specified.

According to the agreement, creative concept development, engineering and design planning, production, logistics, installation, as well as full technical and operational service work involving a team of up to 40 specialists were also carried out within the framework of this program.

A study of more than a dozen agreements signed with Doping Space LLC shows that the organizing of COP17 has cost quite a lot to Armenia’s taxpayers.

In particular, more than 2.18 billion drams was allocated for the project to ensure the readiness of the infrastructure necessary for holding COP17 alone. About 487.1 million drams were allocated for the provision of vehicles and traffic organizing necessary for holding the conference, more than 407.3 million drams for the purchase and supply of necessary furniture, and about 289.5 million drams for the development and production of COP17 branded gifts. During the organizing of the conference, services for providing access control cost about 119.5 million drams, services for providing lighting and sound systems at the main venue cost more than 105.4 million drams, and more than 103.2 million drams were paid for coordinating the security and guarding.

Digital communication, media promotion system, and advertising placement cost 357.1 million drams, while audiovisual content development and production services were estimated at more than 223 million drams, the creation and placement of non-digital outdoor advertising cost about 208.5 million drams, while digital outdoor advertising cost more than 189.4 million drams.

In addition, 116.6 million drams were allocated for the production of a documentary film and cartoon series about Armenia’s biodiversity, and more than 103.5 million drams were allocated for the installation and adjustment of video surveillance systems. The supply and installation of additional power systems (generators, cable systems) to ensure uninterrupted power supply for the conference cost about 89.7 million drams, and 54.6 million drams were paid for branding of the event venues, vehicles and other elements, and a large-scale information campaign, etc.

It is noteworthy that the submitted agreements lack information on which specific companies Doping Space LLC purchased services from, and by what criteria or principle the subcontractors were selected.

For the procurement of organizational services for the organizing of COP17, 18.5 billion drams were allocated from the reserve fund of Armenia’s state budget.

The Ministry of Environment of Armenia claims that the selection of service providers for hosting COP17 was not the result of the ministry’s sole decision. According to the ministry, the Armenian government’s decision allowed the procurement of specialized services for organizing the conference through a single procurement procedure. Meanwhile, official data published on the unified procurement website indicate that the organizing of this event was fully delegated to one company, which implies that the entire responsibility for the proper fulfillment of contractual obligations, cost efficiency, and possible risk management lies with one organization.

Doping Space LLC, with which contracts worth billions of drams were signed without a competitive procedure, is known for organizing official events and concerts at the expense of the Armenian state budget, as well as for failing to hold a Snoop Dogg concert in Yerevan.

Currently, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Armenia has a claim of more than 500 million drams from Doping Space LLC. This amount was generated from the Armenian state budget balance of Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Yerevan on August 3, 2025, fines for late reporting, and other contractual obligations.

According to the State Register of Legal Entities Agency of Armenia, Doping Space LLC was founded in 2023, and its shareholder is Hayk Simonyan.