The deal has raised questions of conflict of interest in a government that has made a priority of prosecuting corruption among members of the former regime.
The state has begun gifting all newlyweds in the country a free copy of the national epic poem, The Knight in the Panther’s Skin, meant as a “dowry” for the brides.
The political opposition used the conference as a political weapon against Pashinyan, and organizers lamented the indifference of the police after they received threats.
The presidential race was a partial referendum on former president Mikheil Saakashvili. Some low-information voters took that literally, voting for a fringe candidate with a similar name.
The United National Movement’s strong showing is a comeback of sorts for former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who still leads the opposition party from exile.
