I find the rise of the state duty for pawn shops logical. This is what Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said in response to Deputy of the Prosperous Armenia faction Tigran Urikhanyan’s question on the rise of the state duty for pawn shops and foreign exchange bureaus at the National Assembly on 27 March.

The MP also informed that the employees of pawn shops are preparing to hold a protest in front of the government building on 28 March.

In response, Grigoryan stated that the current state duty rate for pawn shops and foreign exchange bureaus is simply ridiculous. “It is impossible to engage in dialogue with the representatives of pawn shops who recommend not making an amendment,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Owners of pawn shops and foreign exchange bureaus have held several demonstrations against the bill under the government’s consideration. According to the bill, there will be an AMD 6 million state duty for pawn shops instead of the current AMD 100,000, while foreign exchange bureaus will pay a AMD 3 million state duty instead of the current AMD 50,000.