Re: Who owns what in Armenia
«Carrefour-ի տնօրենը մատ է թափ տվել վրես». Սամվել Ալեքսանյանը գանգատվում է, որ տնից դուրս գալ չի կարող
11 Սեպտեմբերի 2013
ՀՀԿ-ական պատգամավոր Սամվել Ալեքսանյանն այսօր ԱԺ-ում լրագրողների հարցերին պատասխանեց` անսպառ ժպիտ ապահովող պատասխաններով:
Լրագրողներից մեկի հարցին` ճի՞շտ է, որ Carrefour-ի տնօրենն իրեն սպառնացել է, Ալեքսանյանը պատասխանեց. «Հա, սպառնացել է: Մատ ա թափ տվել վրես, դրա համար էլ, չեք տենո՞ւմ, տնից դուրս չեմ գալիս էս քանի օրը: Էսօր մի կերպ եկա»:
Դիտարկմանը, թե, ամեն դեպքում, Carrefour-ը կարծես առաջիկայում բացվելու է, Ալեքսանյանն արձագանքեց. «Հա, կբացվի, կարմիր լենտն էլ ես եմ կտրելու»:
Նշենք, որ, ըստ խոսակցությունների, Carrefour միջազգային հիպերմարկետների ցանցի մուտքը Հայաստան ձգձգվում է հայրենական մի շարք գործարարների` այդ թվում Սամվել Ալեքսանյանի «չուզողության» պատճառով:
HayNews.am
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Re: Who owns what in Armenia
Սամվել Ալեքսանյանի դժբախտությունը
Նաիրա Հայրումյան
Ուրբաթ, 30 Օգոստոսի 2013,
Սամվել Ալեքսանյանի գլխավոր դժբախտությունն այն է, որ մնացել է գրեթե միակ օլիգարխը, ով վճարում է իշխանության ծախսերը (պետական ու անձնական): Մյուս օլիգարխները խառնված են դատական գործերում, մեծ «խնդիրներ» ունեն եւ չեն կարող վճարել հին հաշիվներով: Մյուս «հին ընկերները» դադարել են «վճարել», նայում են հեռվից, իսկ առիթի դեպքում՝ ոտք գցում:
Սամվել Ալեքսանյանը դարձել է արքունի օլիգարխ, որի դիմաց օգտվում է արքունի բոլոր արտոնություններից: Երեւանի նախկին գլխավոր ճարտարապետ Նարեկ Սարգսյանը խոստովանել է, որ Փակ շուկայի հարցում ի վիճակի չեն եղել ազդել Սամվել Ալեքսանյանի վրա, ով թքած ունի Երեւանի քաղաքապետարանի, Մշակույթի նախարարության եւ այլոց վրա: Նարեկ Սարգսյանի այս խոսքը հասցեագրված էր ոչ թե հանրությանը, այլ Սամվել Ալեքսանյանին, հասկացնել տալով, որ նրան առայժմ ոչինչ չի խանգարում ավարտին հասցնել շինարարությունը:
Սակայն դժբախտությունը դրա մեջ չէ, այլ այն բանի, որ արքունի ֆավորիտների վերջը որպես կանոն դաժան է լինում: Երեկ ինչ որ մեկը փչացրել է Կոմիտաս 5-ի անօրինական շինարարության տեխնիկան: Մի քանի տարի առաջ Սյունիքում մարդիկ շարքից հանել էին ուրան հետազոտող մեքենան: Մի քանի ամիս առաջ Մարցի գյուղացիները ձորն էին գլորել հէկ-ի խողովակները: Ներկայում, երեւանցիները ձեւավորում են Փակ շուկայի ավելացված կառույցների ապամոնտաժման շարժում:
Սամվել Ալեքսանյանը դարձել է օլիգարխիայի խորհրդանիշը, եւ քանի դեռ իշխանությանը պետք է որպես դրամապանակ, կմնա խորհրդանիշ: Սակայն ամեն ինչ փոխվում է, իշխանությունը կարող է ձեռք բերել ֆինանսական նոր աղբյուրներ, որոնք կպահանջեն պատվանդանից գցել օլիգարխներին: Եւ այդժամ Սամվել Ալեքսանյանը կդառնա տապալված օլիգարխիայի խորհրդանիշը:
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/arm/0/cou....lX5bouS8.dpufLeave a comment:
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Re: Who owns what in Armenia
TSARUKYAN AND SAMVEL ALEXANYAN ARE INELIGIBLE
05/08/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
The Ministry of Finance has posted on its website the list of companies
where mandatory financial audit reported issues. The list includes
Lusastgh, Alex Grig, Lusastgh Sugar, Natali Farm owned by MP Samvel
Alexanyan and Kotayk Beer owned by MP Gagik Tsarukyan.
The list includes Armenian National Center for SME Development,
Sovrano, Yerevan State University, Vagharsh and Sons, Narsan, Khachatur
Abovyan Pedagogical University, Jermuk Group, Shant, Yerevan Champaign
Factory, Guarant Insurance, Royal Armenia, Yerevan xxxelry Factory,
Armenia Medical Center, Catherine Group, the Yerevan Hotel, MAP,
Malayan Eye Center, Unicomp, Proshyan Brandy Factory, High Voltage
Electric Networks, Ararat Brandy Factory, Nairi Medical Center, Bacon
Product, Mkhitar Heratsi Medical University, Mush, Sharm Holding, BTA
Bank, Hovnanian International, Arax Poultry Farm, Petak, Kanaker Zeytun
Medical Center, Senator Casino, Armenian Business Bank, Avshar Wine,
Fanarjian National Center of Oncology, Armenian Electric Networks,
Armenian Nuclear Plant, Armenian State University of Economics,
Yerevan Metro, Saint Gregory Illuminator Medical Center, Zigzag,
Geoteam, Tamara etc.
The number of companies on the list of companies with negative audit
reports is 203. This year these companies will not be eligible for
state procurement.Leave a comment:
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Re: Who owns what in Armenia
MP SAMVEL ALEKSANYAN EXPANDS FISH FARM OPERATION DESPITE GOVERNMENT WARNINGS
August 5, 2013
Kristine Aghalaryan
Grisha Balasanyan
It appears that Armenia's Ministry of the Environment has no idea
how many fish farm operations in the Ararat Valley are breaking the
law when it comes to the number of underground water wells actually
being operated.
Or else, maybe the Ministry does know but figures it can't do much
to shut down the illegal wells given that many of the fish farms are
operated by powerful and influential Armenian politicians.
Here's a case in point.
In 2010, when we visited the fish farm owned by Armenian MP Samvel
Aleksanyan in the Ararat village of Sipanik, the manager told us that
operation was drawing water from 6-7 bore holes.
When we asked the Ministry of the Environment to verify this data,
they responded that according to their information Aleksanyan's
Sipanik fish farm only had official permission for one. It actually
says so on the Ministry's web site.
To make matters worse, the Ministry claims that it has issued no new
permits for bore holes in the Ararat Valley since 2012.
Our recent visits to local fish farms, however, shows that despite
the Ministry's claims to the contrary, operators are flouting the law
left and right. They are expanding their operations and drawing more
than the permissible water amounts to sustain the larger farms.
MP Samvel Aleksanyan seems unperturbed by the Ministry's stated
limits. He's a politician whose real source of influence stems from
his import monopolies. These and his fish farming operation all are
managed under the name of his Aleks Grig conglomerate.
According to Movses Arakelyan, who manages Aleksanyan's Sipanik fish
farm, the number of water bore holes has risen to ten, soiling out 960
liters of water per second. Even Arakelyan confesses that underground
water reserves are dropping as a result of such profligate usage.
Decreasing underground water levels in the Ararat Valley is an issue
periodically raised in the halls of government, but a long-term
solution is nowhere in evidence.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan's repeated calls for a more rational
water usage policy has seemingly fallen on deaf ears. But a large
part of the blame lies with Sargsyan himself - he fails to seriously
follow-up on his pronouncements, leaving everything to chance and to
underlings that fail to execute his instructions.
PM Sargsyan made his latest pronouncement on the matter at a July 10
cabinet session. He described the overall water usage situation in
the Ararat Valley as an "impending calamity".
But the oligarchs who own fish farms seem unconcerned. They continue
to draw huge amounts of water from underground aquifers to sustain
their businesses. Many avoid paying the prescribed water taxes by a
number of devious methods.
Readers will be surprised to learn that Aleksanyan's fish farm hasn't
even installed a water meter. The business pays taxes based on water
consumption rates as estimated by a panel of experts. Every quarter,
the business pays 500,000 AMD ($1,200) for all the water it uses.
Fish farm manager Movses Arakelyan says the business has the potential
to grow but that decreasing water levels is the problem. He says the
only solution is to introduce a water recirculation system like they
use in Europe, but that it's expensive. The cost of such a system,
according to Arakelyan, would also drive up the retail price of fish.
Last year, MP Aleksanyan sold 247 tons of fish farmed at his Sipanik
operation in his Yerevan City chain of supermarkets.
Manager Arakelyan says that while the supermarket chain is growing,
fish sales are down by 30-40%. He argues that continued emigration
from Armenia means less retail consumers.
The retail price of fish has also dropped from an average of
1,700-2,000 AMD per kilo three years ago to the current 1,500.Leave a comment:
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Re: Who owns what in Armenia
Originally posted by Vrej1915 View Post
"Certificate of Insanity"
The ex-mayor of Goris Samvel Harutiunyan who disclosed some criminal activities of the ex-mayor of Syunik and his relative has fears of retribution. He said that Liska’s brother has a “certificate of insanity” which he acquired in an illegal way to avoid punishment for his crimes.
The Armenian press has reported a number of crimes committed by Aghalar. And he always got away with it. So, the worries of the ex-mayor of Goris are grounded.
The Armenian press also reported that the ex-mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghukasyan also had a “certificate of insanity” whose clan does not fall behind Liska’s clan in terms of both quantity and quality of crimes committed.
Papers have a big role in the criminal system. One may say that the representatives of the system were the first to understand their meaning. The government understood the meaning of the constitution the first and since 2003 this word became dominant in its word stock. There was not a better “paper” than the constitution which they can get armed with against the legal demands and rights of the society and pursue their own interests without being punished.
It is worth recalling Serzh Sargsyan’s statement that everything is OK with the papers of the Armenian government representatives. He meant the coalescence of business and government, businessmen occupying positions in public administration.
“Papers” are an excellent opportunity for the system, a forceful alibi, which are used, on the one hand, to cover up past and fresh crimes, and on the other hand, continue the criminal path.
The system cannot do without crime, it is their lifestyle and the basis and guarantee of their existence, and it requires “papers”, whether a certificate of insanity or a certificate of PhD, Military Cross and benefactor and year’s person, Constitution and citizen emeritus. The representatives of the Armenian criminal oligarchic system have more titles and degrees than any renowned scientist in the world.
The Armenian criminal and oligarchic system has tried to ensure alibi and insanity for itself in order to produce and show the relevant “papers” as soon as the time of inevitable responsibility comes.Leave a comment:
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Re: Who owns what in Armenia
Levon Hayrapetyan was the person responsible for this visual obscenity - http://hetq.am/eng/news/27619/350-in...surfacing.html - as well as other examples of his bad taste such as the dozens of spotlights placed on the roof of the monastery.
People Spoiled Levon Hayrapetyan
The activities of Levon Hayrapetyan, a Russia-based businessman and benefactor, born in Karabakh, are covered widely and impetuously in Karabakh. Turn on Artsakh TV and you will see how many things Levon Hayrapetyan has built in Vank and not only there. The Karabakh people are proud of their compatriot, saying that he alone counters an entire hostile propaganda, proving that being unrecognized doesn’t hinder development and prosperity.
Apparently, Levon Hayrapetyan is fabulously rich. Anyway, he is friends with such stars as Willie Tokarev who sometimes visits Vank. Al Bano has recently visited Vank (I don’t know if he’s not blacklisted in Azerbaijan), villagers say the capital of Karabakh is no longer Stepanakert, the capital is Vank.
Levon Hayrapetyan is considered a capricious person, just like a nabob should be. Many even say that he is not so clever, but it is not so. The person, they say, was the assistant editor of the Soviet Sobesednik, and now is its shareholder, so he must be smart. On the contrary, he is very intelligent, simply he admits that God gives him everything, and sometimes he doesn’t know how to give away all that.
Once in an interview with the television of Artsakh, Levon Hayrapetyan said that he would like to spend his money for his homeland, for his home village to prosper, and to have people in Karabakh live happily ever after.
But sometimes he does strange thinks. Many say that his charity projects have spoiled people whom he helps. They became parasites, quitted working their fertile land, preferring to live on charity. It is also strange that a man of fine taste builds tasteless buildings, but in order to show that he knows the differences in styles, he calls his hotel “Eclecticism”.
Levon Hayrapetyan is known for his caprices. People who benefit from his caprices made him such. Proud Karabakh people tolerate all sorts of weird things and even humiliation for a piece of easy bread. Moreover, not only the people he pays for their service but also the country’s top leadership tend to indulge the weird caprices of this rich person.
In his interviews, Levon Hayrapetyan has stated for a number of times that he likes to communicate with people who consider themselves equal, who don’t think they owe him but the TV journalist ignored what he said and asked flattering questions on patriotism, which Levon Hayrapetyan didn’t listen to the end.
During the presidency of Arkady Ghukasyan, serious disagreement occurred between the President and Levon Hayrapetyan. Hayrapetyan was reported to refuse to pay taxes as he has invested in Karabakh so much that he doesn’t have to pay more. Reports appeared in press that the wood-processing unit in Vank set up by Levon Hayrapetyan has destroyed invaluable oak forests in the district, and his company was barred from logging. In retaliation, he closed the workshop and refused to pay taxes. We don’t know what happened in reality because nothing was disclosed to the public. We only know that when the Ghukasyan’s term ended, he made peace with Hayrapetyan, though tension didn’t end.
The current leadership of Karabakh lit the green light for Levon Hayrapetyan, and he decides how to invest the money. The society doesn’t disturb him either, and only the recent history concerning the facing of the walls of Gandzasar Monastery proved that not everyone in the society is being servile to Hayrapetyan.
Let’s hope that Levon Hayrapetyan will like the wave of dissatisfaction and take a breath with a feeling of freedom that only proud people will benefit from his charity who will not allow him to spoil their history and their souls. This must be very important to an intelligent man.Leave a comment:
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Re: Who owns what in Armenia
LISKA's heritage:
Սյունիքի մարզպետի տան մոտ վիրավորված սպայի վիճակը մնում է ծանր, մարզպետը կանչվել է ոստիկանություն
19:31 . 02/06
Սյունիքի մարզպետ Սուրեն Խաչատրյանի տան մոտ գիշերը տեղի ունեցած փոխհրաձգության գործով կան ձերբակալվածներ։ Այս մասին հայտնում է Ոստիկանության կայքը, նշելով, որ նախաքննությունը շարունակվում է։
Իսկ միջադեպի մասին ոստիկանությունը հայտնում է, որ հունիսի 1-ին, ժամը 23.40-ին, անհայտ քաղաքացուց ոստիկանության Գորիսի բաժնում ահազանգ է ստացվել, որ Գետափնյա թաղամասից լսվել են կրակոցներ:
Մեկնած օպերատիվ խումբը պարզել է, որ հունիսի 1-ին, երեկոյան, Դավիթ-Բեկի փողոցի թիվ 1 հասցեում գտնվող առանձնատան դիմացի հատվածում տեղի են ունեցել կրակոցներ, ինչի հետեւանքով 1970 թ. ծնված Ավետիք Բուդաղյանը ստացած հրազենային վնասվածքներից տեղում մահացել է, իսկ 1971 թ. ծնված Արտակ Բուդաղյանը և 1975 թ. ծնված Նիկոլայ Աբրահամյանը հրազենային վնասվածքներով տեղափոխվել են հիվանդանոց:
Դեպքի վայր են մեկնել ՀՀ ոստիկանության պետի տեղակալ Հ. Հունանյանը, քրեական հետախուզության գլխավոր վարչության պետ Ա. Զաքարյանը և Սյունիքի մարզային վարչության պետ Վ. Ավագյանը:
Փաստի առթիվ ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգրքի 104 հոդվածի 2-րդ մասի 6-րդ կետով և 235 հոդվածի 1-ին մասով հարուցվել է քրեական գործ: Ոստիկանություն են բերման ենթարկվել և հրավիրվել դեպքին մասնակից, ականատես հնարավոր վկաները, որոնք հարցաքննվում են:
Ոչ պաշտոնական աղբյուրների հաղորդմամբ, ոստիկանություն է կանչվել եւ առայժմ միայն բացատրություններ է տվել նաեւ Սյունիքի մարզպետը, ով հայտնել է, թե դեպքի պահին քնած է եղել։
"Լավ ա քնած եմ եղել, թե չէ մի 20 հատ շարելու էի գլխին",- ասել է Սուրեն Խաչատրյանը shamshyan.com-ին։
Իսկ ՊՆ մամուլի խոսնակ Արծրուն Հովհաննիսյանը տեղեկացնում է, որ միջադեպի ժամանակ ծանր վիրավորում ստացած գնդապետ Արտակ Բուդաղյանի վիճակը շարունակում է մնալ ծանր, սակայն հոսպիտալի բժիշկները նկատում են դրական միտումներ։Last edited by Vrej1915; 06-02-2013, 12:15 PM.Leave a comment:
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Re: Who owns what in Armenia
CYPRUS TROIKA: WHO "STRIPPED" BUSINESSMAN PAYLAK HAYRAPETYAN OF HIS ASSETS?
16:30, May 29, 2013
Ararat Davtyan
Edik Baghdasaryan
Kristine Aghalaryan
The murky dealings of WLISPERA HOLDINGS LIMITED, an offshore company
registered in Cyprus, reveals how elements of Armenia's powerful state,
church and business sectors have been able to operate in tandem in
the pursuit of their own economic interests.
The company has three equal shareholders - RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan, Primate of the Ararat Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church Archbishop Navasard Kjoyan, and Ashot Sukiasyan.
WLISPERA (WHL) is directly connected to a case involving the seizure
of assets belonging to businessman Paylak Hayrapetyan.
From June 25, 2010 to June 15, 2011 Ashot Sukiasyan received periodic
loans of $10.7 million from AmeriaBank. As collateral, however,
he used companies owned by Paylak Hayrapetyan and the latter's son.
Receiving the money, however, Sukiasyan failed to abide by the loan
agreement conditions and the business plan he had presented. But this
didn't prevent AmeriaBank to continue freely transferring amounts to
several bank accounts owned by companies registered in Cyprus.
According to instructions of the Dzoragyugh Production Cooperative,
AmeriaBank wired some $9,370,450 of the loan monies transferred to
the cooperative's bank account to the accounts of several offshore
companies held at the Hellenic Bank Publik Company of Cyprus. The
loan monies were transferred to:
A.B.S. GLOBAL LIMITED- $7, 020, 450 WLISPERA HOLDINGS LIMITED- $350,000
STR EMERALD LIMITED- $2,000,000 Let us present another interesting
fact. A portion of the amounts transferred to the Cyprus offshore
accounts, were transferred back during the same time period to the
Dzoragyugh Production Cooperative accounts at AmeriaBank.
In particular, $3,233,000 was transferred to STR EMERALD and $2,099,733
to WLISPERA.
So who is Ashot Sukiasyan? The press in Armenia has reported about
him on various occasions. According to one report, his godfather is
Ararat Primate Archbishop Navasard Kjoyan and that it was Soukiasyan
who gave an expensive Bentley automobile to the clergyman.
Shares of the Dzoragyugh cooperative are equally owned by Ashot
Sukiasyan, his wife and daughter. It is well-known that he owes a
great deal of money to people not only in Armenia, but also in Africa
and Russia.
He and his family have since left Armenia. Our efforts to contact
Sukiasyan failed.
The police in Armenia have launched a criminal case regarding the
abovementioned loan story, but no one has yet been charged with
anything.
Paylak Hayrapetyan was one of those who reported the crime and tells
how he got caught up in the mess in which his assets are on the verge
of being seized.
"In 2009, when the Armenian government was pushing a plan to develop
the diamond and xxxellery sector in the country, I invested $3.5
million and launched a business employing 400. I built a factory
and a trade school to prepare craftspeople. One day, I received a
call from Gagik Kocharyan, then the head of the Trade and Market
Regulatory Department at the Ministry of Economics. He invited me to
see the minister on an urgent matter regarding sector consultation,"
says Paylak Hayrapetyan.
Hayrapetyan says that when he arrived at the ministry, the prime
minister had already exited the consultation. The two met on the
stairway landing. He entered the consultation room and then Economic
Minister Nerses Yeritsyan was seated. On one side was Archbishop
Kjoyan, and on the other, Ashot Sukiasyan.
At the meeting, the minister told the heads of 23 diamond and xxxellery
manufacturers that $100 million of the $500 million loan to be given
by Russia would be allocated in the form of raw diamonds.
Moreover, Russia had agreed that Armenia would repay this amount in
the form of cultivated diamonds. The minister presented the demand
of the government to the manufacturers at the meeting; namely that
they would have to employ 10,000 as part of the loan deal.
"Then the minister gave the floor to Ashot Sukiasyan who said that he
owned mines in Sierra Leone in Africa and that he was ready to provide
quality raw material 15% cheaper than the Russian offer, Hayrapetyan
said. "Everyone was happy about this, Yeritsyan and his friends. They
agreed and twenty says later Ashot brought a sample of the material.
At this meeting there were some 17-18 businessmen present. They had
brought experts with them. It turns out that the diamond material
was indeed high quality."
Sukiasyan, however, noted that he could supply Armenian businessmen
with such material for years on end if a $12 million investment was
made in his African mines to purchase some necessary equipment. Those
present at the meeting, escorted by Trade and Market Regulatory
Department at the Ministry head Gagik Kocharyan, then went to Swiss
Bank.
"Since it was such a large-scale government project and I was the
eldest of those present, I said that I would be able to immediately
place my property as collateral so that the others wouldn't have to
do so individually. The duration wasn't that long, just three years,"
recounts Paylak Hayrapetyan.
Sometime later, Ashot Sukiasyan said that Swiss Bank had refused to
grant the loan, but that with the intercession of the prime minister,
Minister Yeritsyan and Archbishop Kjoyan, AmeriaBank had agreed to
loan the money.
Sukiasyan placed $33 million dollars worth of property belonging to
Paylak Hayrapetyan as collateral with the bank and received a $10.7
million loan.
"The business plan, on which the loan was given, was drafted by
AmeriaBank. Sukiasyan paid $6,000 for the plan," says Hayrapetyan.
The plan was very similar to the government's plans of 2008 and 2013.
It too was a grandiose plan that envisaged turning Armenia into a world
center for the polishing and sale of diamonds. Of course, this time,
it was the debtor, Dzoraghbyur Ltd., making such a promise according
to the business plan. All the while, the bank transferred monies to
a production cooperative bearing a similar name never noted in the
original business plan.
Thus, the question arises as to why, and upon whose orders, did
AmeriaBank conduct such transcations? Why didn't it monitor the
expenditures of the loan, especially since the amounts were given
in installments? The bank could have, for example, stopped the
seventh instalment given that the debtor hadn't performed any of
its obligations regarding the previous six. Furthermore, the bank
"closed its eyes" to the fact that a portion of the loan amounts
had been transferred back to an account that Dzoraghbyur Production
Cooperative had opened in AmeriaBank.
Surprisingly, despite all this, AmeriaBank took title to all the
property seized from Paylak Kayrapetyan.
(to be continued)
Photo (left to right) - Ashot Sukiasyan, RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan, Archbishop Navasard Kjoyan
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Re: Who owns what in Armenia
HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: SAMVEL ALEXANYAN'S NEPHEW TO BECOME HEAD OF MALATIA-SEBASTIA DISTRICT
11:44 30/05/2013 " DAILY PRESS
Haykakan Zhamanak reported earlier that head of Yerevan's
Malatia-Sebastia district David Ohanyan will become deputy mayor
of Yerevan.
The paper's sources say that the nephew of MP Samvel Alexanyan will
be appointed head of Malatia-Sebastia community. Ohanyan refuted
the report the day after its publication. Indeed, Samvel Alexanyan's
nephew, Artak Alexanyan, attended a recent meeting of Malatia-Sebastia
administration.
The district administration is well aware that Artak Alexanyan will
be their chief.
"The 25-year-old Artak is the son of Samvel Alexanyan's brother who
committed suicide several years ago," the paper writes.
Source: Panorama.amLeave a comment:
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Re: Who owns what in Armenia
RFE/RL Armenia Report - 05/20/2013
Tax Chief Cleared Over Business Ownership
Armenia - Gagik Khachatrian, head of the State Revenue Committee, at a
news conference in Yerevan, 20Feb2013.
Sargis Harutyunyan
20.05.2013
Gagik Khachatrian, the controversial chief of Armenia's tax and
customs services, has not abused his position to enrich himself or his
relatives, according to a state anti-graft body that has investigated
corruption allegations leveled against him.
The state Commission on the Ethics of High-Ranking Officials launched
the inquiry last month in response to a petition from the
Anti-Corruption Center (ACC), the Armenian branch of the Berlin-based
watchdog Transparency International. The ACC in turn cited an article
published in the pro-opposition daily `Haykakan Zhamanak' last
October.
The article contained a long list of companies which it said are owned
by Khachatrian. Among them are a major Internet and cable TV service
provider, two food-importing companies, one supermarket, a car
dealership and a luxury watch store in Yerevan. According to `Haykakan
Zhamanak,' the head of the State Revenue (SRC) also controls a company
that has a legal monopoly on supplying paper for cash registers used
by thousands of businesses.
In its written findings made available to RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am) over the weekend, the commission said Khachatrian does
not formally own any of those firms. But it said that two of those
entities -- the Mitsubishi car dealership and the Apeyron
food-importing company -- belong to his children, while four others
are controlled by his cousins.
The commission, which is located at the presidential administration
building in Yerevan, insisted that this fact does not amount to a
conflict of interest. It said that Khachatrian has made no decisions
in his capacity as SRC head that have benefited the businesses
registered in his children's names.
Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian service, Sona Ayvazian, the ACC's deputy
director, dismissed this conclusion as `dubious.' Ayvazian said the
commission failed to thoroughly investigate activities of the firms
owned by Khachatrian's relatives. In particular, she said, the state
body should have scrutinized the amount of taxes paid by them to see
whether they might have enjoyed privileged treatment.
The SRC denied Khachatrian's involvement in business earlier in
April. Khachatrian, for his part, claimed afterwards that the declared
corruption inquiry is the result of a long-running smear campaign
targeting him.
Opposition-linked and independent media outlets have for years
portrayed Khachatrian as one of the country's richest men.
In an annual report released in March, Armenia's state human rights
defender, Karen Andreasian, said that owning businesses is the norm
among tax and customs officials. The report said some of the companies
belonging to them or their cronies enjoy privileged treatment by the
tax authorities, undermining their competitors. The SRC denied that,
saying that the ombudsman failed to come up with any concrete
examples.Leave a comment:
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