The new proposed tax will not apply to all Armenian citizens
Armenian parliament began on Monday debates on a set of controversial amendments to the law "On the compensation of damage caused to life and health of military personnel during the hostilities" and a number of related laws.
Under the proposed amendments a special tax to finance new and much heftier benefits for the families of military personnel killed or seriously wounded in action will be introduced. Under the scheme the families of soldiers who die or become gravely disabled while on combat duty will be paid 10 million drams ($21,000) each, while wounded soldiers will be paid 5 million drams. In addition to these one-time payments, the close relatives of killed or wounded army officers, contract soldiers and conscripts will receive monthly benefits ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 drams for 20 years. The compensation scheme is to come into force after January 2017.
The program will be financed from a special fund to which every working person will contribute 1,000 drams ($2.1) per month, as well as from donations.
Presenting the details of the new plan, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan welcomed the dialogue with all sectors of the society on the subject, saying also he was ready to accept all the proposals, some of which are being considered and will be presented for the second reading.
"It will be logical if families, in which there are soldiers or conscripts, will not pay the tax. The same should apply to families with servicemen who became disabled or were killed as a result of military operations," the minister said. ($1 – 477.34 drams). --0--