With the Armenian government’s decision on Thursday, the Tamara Fruit company will have to return 56 million drams ($148,466 US) to state budget.  By way of Russian credits, the Armenian government had provided a 300-million-dram ($795,355) grant to this company in 2009, to create organic gardens. And according to the government’s decision on Thursday, Tamara Fruit had acquired more seed material than planned, and, as a result, 56 million drams were saved.

The government, therefore, had decided that the aid money should comprise 244 million drams ($646,889), instead of 300 million. In addition, Armenia’s Control Chamber had recorded several violations by Tamara Fruit in using state funds. That is, by indicating seedling and other material prices higher than the actual market price, Tamara Fruit had received an extra 77.5 million drams ($205,466) from state budget.      

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture had immediately transferred the 300 million drams to Tamara Fruit. Thus, the Government of Armenia took back, in part, its generous “gift” to the company, but presented it as “return of saved funds,” in the case when the Control Chamber indicates incorrect calculations.