"Zhoghovurd" daily writes:
"The RA Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan participated in a meeting with voters the day before, where he appeared in expensive clothes and jewelry. According to sales websites, the price of the Max&Co brand cardigan with floral patterns seen in the photos is around 344 dollars. A denim skirt of the same brand is sold for around 24,000 rubles, which is around $300 at the current exchange rate. The outfit was complemented by APM Monaco brand jewelry.
The value of the necklace is estimated at about 333 dollars, and the earrings - 185 euros. That is, the total cost of the clothes and jewelry seen in public photos alone exceeds 1100-1200 dollars, excluding shoes, bag, watch and other accessories.
However, this is not the first time when the clothes and accessories of Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan become a topic of public discussion. Earlier, "Zhoghovurd" daily presented another public image of the minister, the total value of which was estimated at around 2.2 million drams.
A bag worth about 3132 dollars, a belt worth about 180 thousand drams, shoes with tiger patterns valued at about 600 thousand drams, as well as a suit worth 106 thousand drams were included in that sale.
And a few days ago, during a meeting with new students, Avanesyan wore the Grottaglie Gilet model of the Italian brand PINKO, the price of which is around 305 dollars. Of course, every person, including the minister, has the right to dress as he wants and as his opportunities allow.
However, the problem here is the political and moral message that such images convey to society. According to official data, the poverty level in Armenia is 21.7 percent. This means that every fifth citizen lives in poverty. According to the estimates of international organizations, the number of malnourished population in our country reaches around 560 thousand.
At the same time, many unsolved problems remain in the health care system. Citizens complain about the prices of medicines, queues for medical care, lack of specialists in regions and access to health services.
And it is against this background that the flamboyance of officials becomes not a matter of fashion, but of political responsibility and public sensitivity.
Moreover, it becomes a symbolic image of the polarization that has formed over the years between the highest echelons of power and the socially vulnerable layers of society.
On one side are hundreds and thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and branded clothes, on the other side are thousands of families who are calculating every month how to pay for medicine, food and treatment.
It is this contrast that speaks louder than any pre-election speech today."
