The State Revenue Committee Banana Lie

Weeks ago the RA State Revenue Committee (SRC) issued a statement, according to which “unknown individuals tried to obstruct the process of banana imports. As a result of taken measures within the law, the entrepreneur has received support and successfully carried out the import.”

Later, in response to our and other teams’ enquiries to provide details, instead of providing information, the State Revenue Committee informed:  “… the Committee highlights the importance of the formation of the fair competition in the market, the first visible results of which is the 200 AMD decline in banana prices in recent days.”

Yesterday, the National Statistical Service released the average prices of consumer goods in November (including banana in the capital Yerevan). According to it, in spite of the State Revenue Committee, banana prices dropped by 28 AMD instead of the claimed 200AMD.

Moreover, as seen in the chart, the banana was more expensive this November than in March or July. Therefore, we can state that the data published by the SRC on banana prices is far from reality.

It is also worth noting that both the SRC and the Prosecutor’s Office, violating the RA Law on Freedom of information, do not provide details regarding obstruction case of banana imports. And since formerly the SRC, as a rule, respected the law and provided the requested information, there is reason to suspect that this story of banana imports obstruction and the SRC’s support to the entrepreneur is, at least partially, a made up one.

The Union of Informed Citizens has applied to the court, demanding to oblige the SRC and the Prosecutor’s Office to provide detailed information regarding the case. In particular, it was sought to explain what was the obstruction, whether a criminal case has been initiated on it, whether the names and incentives are known, as well as the quantity of banana in question.