Bread and Circuses In Nikol’s Armenia

By Jirair Tutunjian

Indifferent actress and undisciplined dancer Jennifer Lopez (aka JayLo), who shows generous yardage of dermis in the movies and in her live performances, was paid $6,000,000 for her single Yerevan show in August 2025. The dollars came from the state budget while the solo show was organized by something called Doping Solo with support from the Ministry of Education, Sciences, Culture and Sports. The lowest price ticket price was $65 and the top $493. The median monthly salary in Armenia is $220. Critics condemned the $6,000,000 payment as “reckless extravagance.” The government replied the show was to raise Armenia’s international profile….with the help of the four-time divorcee.

In 2023, rapper Snoop Dogg was paid $3,000,000 for his Yerevan performance. A government spokesperson said the entertainer was invited to “enhance Armenia’s cultural image.”Yes, through rap “music.”

Then there is the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival (GAYIFF). In recent years, the festival has invited such international luminaries as Powel Pawilkowski, Bruno Delhonnel, Ibrahim Maalouf, Anwar Naderi, AbderrahnaneSussako, Athina Tsangari, Phedon Paamichael, Lav Diaz, and Takesh Kitano…The long-retired Italian star Claudia Cardinale, who was big in the Fifties, also made the scene at the Yerevan film festival. Kevin Spacey, the disgraced actor, was guest of honor at one of the GAYIFFs.

When—not just the last time–did the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival made international news?

It seems no day passes without several international conferences being convened in Baku. Dictator Ilham Aliyev sponsors these talkathons to polish his image. Armenia should not try to compete with him. We can’t afford it.

Armenia’s debt is rising steadily and is already at historically high levels relative to GDP. It is expected to be 17.83 billion dollars by the end of 2027. Debt to GDP ratio is near 47.4% and debt servicing ($2.73 billion) is expected to consume 10% of Armenia’s budget.

At the end of 2024, total debt was $12,840,000 ($6.456 billion external; $6.39 domestic.) The following year the figure was $14.5 billion; in 2026 it rose to $16.03 billion.

The average gross monthly salary in Armenia is about AMD 303.140 ($780). However the median monthly pay is much lower ($220) reflecting a large gap between typical and high earner wages.

The obvious question is: why the government of Armenia is spending money when it’s choking in debt? Why is it paying the junket expenses of faded stars who probably have difficulty finding Armenia on the map?

For the answer one might consider Roman history. When times were tough (economic, military, political) in ancient Rome, to generate public support Roman rulers resorted to coaxing approval through free diversion. The government offered Romans free bread and free circus admission. Thus was born the phrase panem et circenses (bread and circuses.)

Armenia’s government has also been subsidizing the pagan Vartavar feast across the country. We don’t know how much such state-wide festival costs.

In recent years the government has several times raised the salary of policemen. Thus, if the bread and circus strategy doesn’t work, there’s always the overpaid, overfed, and brutal police which would help citizens see the light.

We know what happened to Rome.