Armenia’s Ministry of Defense reports that as part of its agenda to hold public talks regarding a government plan to tax salaried workers 1,000 AMD monthly to financially assist soldiers and their families killed or disabled in the line of duty, Minister Vigen Sargsyan met yesterday with representatives of the “intelligentsia”.

The ministry states that a healthy discussion ensued regarding the importance of the plan and how to make it as transparent as possible.

The plan to additionally tax workers to fund greater assistance to soldiers and their families has led to many opposing the plan, arguing that the government should take effectual steps to curb corruption and mismanagement of taxpayer funds.

The ministry failed to name the “intellectuals” participating in the debate.