Who owns what in Armenia

[Vrej1915]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

«Ես ընդհանրապես վատ բան չեմ անում, դուք էդ ձեւ եք ներկայացնում»
13 Սեպտեմբերի 2013 - 09:20

«Իրատես de facto» թերթը Փակ շուկային առնչվող մի քանի հարց է ուղղել գործարար պատգամավոր Սամվել Ալեքսանյանին.
- Որքա՞ն եք վճարում բողոքող կանանց։

- Գնացեք հարցրեք։ Ձեզնից են պաշտպանում։

- Մենք ի՞նչ ենք անում որ։

Որովհետեւ իմ մասին ինչքան վատ բան կա գրում եք։

- Լավ բան արեք, լավ բան գրենք։

- Ես ընդհանրապես վատ բան չեմ անում, դուք էդ ձեւ եք ներկայացնում։

- Բա Ձեր խիճը ե՞րբ է գալու, որ պատմամշակութային այդ արժեքը չփչացնեք։

- Էդ մշակութային արժեքը ես փրկել եմ։

- Ինչի՞ց։

- Զիբիլանոցից, կռիսանոցից։

- Այ հենց Ձեր խոսքերն են այնտեղ հավաքված կանայք ասում։

- Բա ճիշտ են անում։

- Փաստորեն վճարել եք, ինչքա՞ն։

- Քեզ ինչքա՞ն են վճարել, որ հիմա եկել ես ստեղ։

- Ինձ աշխատավարձ են տալիս նյութեր պատրաստելու համար։

- Նրանց էլ աշխատանք են տվել, գործ են տվել, մարդիկ պետք է էնդեղ աշխատեն:

Մանրամասները՝ թերթի այսօրվա համարում:

HayNews.am

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

This reminded me of the donkey in the lions cage youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oXF2GfMDT8

"It wasn't my private zoo", claimed Tsarukyan at the time. Which implied that there were many private zoos in Armenia with lions in them (or, more likely of course, that Tsarukyan was just a bare-faced liar).

HRAPARAK: WHO PRESENTED FIRST LION TO PROSPEROUS ARMENIA LEADER?08:31 19.09.13

The newspaper's sources report "improved" relations between Chairman
of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan and Chief of
Armenia's Police Viva Gasparyan.

The two have lately met frequently. They were on close terms even
before Tsarukyan engaged in politics. The fist lion was Gasparyan's
present to Tsarukyan, who developed a liking for lions later. But
when Armenia's ex-president Robert Kocharyan decided to create the
PAP, Gasparyan and Tsarukyan had a falling-out because Gasparyan and
Kocharyan were not on friendly terms after October 27, 1999.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/09/19/hraparak2/

Here is a response someone made to another Dodi Gago video.

Dodi Gago you are so amazing, You have the biggest lions, most money, a lot of "jeeps", and your 100 bodyguards have the thickest necks from all the bodyguards in Armenia. You are the best best oligarch Armenia has ever had. I hope the people never "wake up" and stand up against your monopolies so you can enjoy your wealth forever! By the way I like the church you build in your back yard! You will go to heaven for that!

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

God dammit people, keep things civil and on topic

And stop with all the insult
this is a warning to all of you!
I don't want to come back to clean this thread again!

[Vrej1915]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

DECLARATIONS OF MOST ARMENIAN SENIOR OFFICIALS NOT ON WEBSITE - COMMITTEE ON FREE SPEECH

October 15, 2013 | 12:58

YEREVAN. - The Committee for the Protection of Freedom of Speech
(CPFS) conducted a monitoring of Armenia's three commitments before
the Open Government Partnership initiative.

CPFS Chairman Ashot Melikyan noted the above-said during a press
conference on Tuesday.

The monitoring was conducted with respect to access to information,
standardization of the content of the official websites of state-run
agencies, and study of the state officials' knowledge concerning
freedom of information.

"The state's creation of the Ethics.am website is considered a great
accomplishment; the officials' declarations [on their ownership]
will have to be presented there.

"[But] the monitoring showed that the declarations of more than half of
the senior officials are not in this website; which is a violation of
the law and the commitment which Armenia has assumed, Melikyan stated.

As per the CPFS chief, the other matter is the fact that not all
senior Armenian officials submit declarations, and the latter's
content likewise is a serious matter; that is, the accuracy of these
declarations.

Ashot Melikyan also stressed that there is a need to fill the state-run
websites with content.

News from Armenia - NEWS.am

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

How an Armenian Oligarch Pays Taxes
10.18.2013 epress.am

Alex Grig, one of the companies owned by oligarch, Republican Party of
Armenia MP Samvel Aleksanyan, has leased another company also
belonging to Aleksanyan, Lusastgh Sugar.

Local daily Haykakan Zhamanak turned to the State Revenue Committee to
find out why Armenian sugar manufacturer Lusastgh Sugar is not on the
list of large taxpayers.

RA State Revenue Committee Deputy Vakhtang Mirumyan said that the
sugar plant is leased to Alex Grig, which is why it's not on the list.
According to the newspaper's economic analyst Hayk Gevorgyan, then
the taxes that Lusastgh Sugar was to have paid should now be paid by
Alex Grig. The analyst noted that a company being leased by another
company belonging to the same person makes no sense, and thus,
requires a closer inspection of taxes paid.

`If Alex Grig is paying the taxes of the sugar producer then that
company in the period mentioned has to significantly increase the
money paid into the state budget. But the reality is quite different.
In the first half of 2012, Alex Grig paid 9 billion 279 million AMD,
and in the same period this year, it paid 6 billion 746 million AMD.
In other words, the taxes paid by Alex Grig decreased by more than 2.5
billion AMD, or 27%,' wrote Gevorgyan.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

"I Am Offended That They Gave No Certificate To My Son" - Armenian Tycoon's Mother

October 21, 2013 | 10:24

YEREVAN. - Roza Tsarukyan, who is the mother of Prosperous Armenia
Party leader and businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, will resign from her
position as the head of the National Union of Farmers.

Tsarukyan herself stated the aforementioned during Sunday's
conference, which was held on the occasion of Farmer's Day, during
which Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetyan presented awards to
several farmers.

"Tsarukyan Gagik gave 200 million [drams; approximately $492,920]
from the charitable foundation [of his]. They should have given a
certificate to his plant's manager, who is represented here; I am
very offended," Roza Tsarukyan stated.

She added that she, too, is doing a lot of work.

"[But] I was found deserving of nothing [in Armenia], whereas I
received a platinum star from a global organization," Tsarukyan
continued.

She also stated that the she soon will convene a National Union of
Farmers congress, during which she will resign from her position as
the head of this organization.

"Numerous farmers, about whom I heard for the first time, were
awarded," Roza Tsarukyan noted.

News from Armenia - NEWS.am

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

ARMENIA'S CORRUPT ELITE HAMPERS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: REPORT

http://www.epress.am/en/2013/10/21/armenia%E2%80%99s-corrupt-elite-hampers-economic-development-report.html

10.21.2013 epress.am

A report published today by an international think tank finds that the
negative impact of corruption on Armenia's economy is "substantial"
and major companies are involved in that process.

The Washington-based think tank Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) announced
the publication of its State of the Nation Report on "Corruption in
Armenia". Note, Karo Yeghnukyan, a member of the Pre-Parliament civic
initiative, is also a member of PFA's Board of Directors.

According to a press release issued by the think tank, the report's
main finding is that corruption's negative impact on Armenia's
economy is substantial. For example, the report, in the section on
corruption faced by companies, finds that "with an estimated cost to
large companies of approximately five percent of sales per year-the
highest among the comparator countries-corruption in Armenia erodes
productivity and competitiveness of firms."

Furthermore, "On the policy side, the report makes a compelling case
that the design and implementation of public policy in Armenia often
serve the interest of the entrenched corrupt elite and not the country
or its citizens.

"PFA's Executive Board member, Dr. Zaven Kalayjian, noted: 'By its
nature, corruption is very difficult to detect, which is why the choice
of methods and areas of study was made carefully to maximize the value
added of the report. The team employed both quantitative techniques
and case studies to help effectively gauge the extent of corruption
and bribery taking place in various segments of the economy and public
life in Armenia, from the judiciary and military to money laundering
and petty crime. The most striking finding was that corruption in
Armenia is highly concentrated and puts in place insurmountable
barriers for economic development and progress in the country.'

"The overarching message of the report is that 'an effective handling
of challenges facing Armenia should begin by forming a legitimate
authority to oversee the new policy course on behalf of the people.

This can be achieved only by a political power with incentives and
capacity to spearhead a systemic change. At the moment, the feedback
mechanism between power and people is broken in Armenia. This makes the
country's ruling regime immune to any pressures from the electorate to
perform better and fundamentally changes the incentives of individuals
at the top of the ruling pyramid.'

"Daron Acemoglu, Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology and the author of a recent bestseller Why Nations Fail:
The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty noted: 'Some say that
Armenia is doomed to fail economically because of its geography or
location in the world. But like so many other countries around the
world and throughout history, its failure is due to corruption,
unscrupulous politicians and weak institutions. It's not lack of
opportunities but squandered opportunities that are at the root of
Armenia's ills, and it can make progress only by confronting this
fact and holding accountable those responsible for the failures. This
wonderful report is a first step'," reads the press release.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

Report Claims Massive Cash Outflows From Armenia

http://www.armenialiberty.org/content/article/25214582.html

Sargis Harutyunyan
Հրապարակված է՝ 27.12.2013

More than $6.2 billion was siphoned out of Armenia from 2002 through 2011 as a result of government corruption, tax evasion and other illegal activity, according to an anti-graft group based in Washington.

The watchdog called Global Financial Integrity (GFI) cited the figure, worth nearly twice the Armenian foreign debt, in a report on illicit capital outflows around the world during that period. It claimed that developing countries lost almost $6 trillion in cash as a result.

The GFI report released this month does not specify the source of its information about alleged capital flight from Armenia. It says that cash outflows from the country dramatically increased in 2007, averaging approximately $1 billion per annum through 2011.

The Armenian Finance Ministry, State Revenue Committee and Central Bank have not yet reacted to the GFI claims. Officials there said on Friday that they will comment after looking into the report.

Economists critical of the Armenian government consider the report’s findings credible. Vahagn Khachatrian, a senior member of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), suggested that the large sums were taken out of the country by wealthy government officials and businesspeople evading taxes. He said their reluctance to invest that money in Armenia highlights widespread corruption and other problems with the rule of law.

“That has to do with the existing political situation and political system,” Khachatrian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). “People are not sure whether they will be able to preserve their money tomorrow.”

Another economist, Bagrat Asatrian, noted that illicit outflows from neighboring Georgia were estimated by GFI at only $4.5 billion. “Over the past decade Georgia has made substantial progress in fighting against the informal sector of the economy,” he said.

Asatrian claimed that Georgia has lost less capital than Armenia also because of its weaker financial ties with Russia. “For the past two decades Russia has been known for a high scale of shadowy financial turnovers and capital flight in particular,” he said. “A small part of those outflows have come out through Armenia.”

The GFI report rates Russia as the world’s second biggest loser of illicit capital after China. It says that as much $880 billion was taken out of the country from 2002-2011.

-------
seems the US decided to put some pressure on the regime, after 3.9.13......

[Vrej1915]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

Armenian Oligarch to Build Another Large Casino
Samvel Avagyan

http://hetq.am/eng/articles/31896/armenian-oligarch-to-build-another-large-casino.html

January 10, 2014
Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan plans to build a large casino named Onira Club on the highway between Yerevan and Abovyan.

This will be Tsarukyan's second such large project, after Shangri La Casino. The project is expected to cost about 61 billion AMD (about $150 million USD), more than the cost of building Shangri La, which is located on the road to Sevan and is part of the Paravon resort and recreation area. Onira Club likewise will be surrounded by a recreation area. According to the state registry, Onira Club's founders are Gagik Tsarukyan (48.6%), Djavahir Tsarukyan (48.6%), and Multi Group Concern LLC (2.79%).

But why does Gagik Tsarukyan need to have two large casinos in close proximity?

The answer is hidden in the RA Law on Gambling and Casinos. According to this law, beginning on Jan. 1, 2014, all casino owners and those offering games of chance or direct online gambling (through gambling halls) have to move their business out of Yerevan and other residential areas with the exception of Tsaghkadzor, Sevan, Jermuk, Meghri, and Zvartnots International Airport. There is also another exception: if the investment in building the casino exceeds 40 billion AMD, then the Armenian government can permit the casino to be built, with the condition of meeting certain criteria.

Since the investment value of Onira Club exceeds 40 billion AMD, the Armenian government on Dec. 26 approved its construction, while the remaining casinos must be removed from Yerevan since none of their investments exceeded 40 billion and none sought permission from the government, leaving only two large casinos — Shangri La and Onira Club, both of which belong to the same person.

There is perhaps one other reason why Tsarukyan has committed to building a new casino. Shangri La's founder is Cleopatra LLC, 50% of the shares of which Gagik Tsarukyan owns. The other half is owned by Shtormbreyn LLC registered in Moscow. It's possible that there are others linked to them. Also for consideration is that the day-to-day operations of Shangri La are run by the UK company Storm International, to which the Shangri La brand belongs. Onira Club, however, belongs solely to Gagik Tsarukyan.

As of Nov. 30, 2013, eleven companies are licensed to have casinos in Armenia, only one of which operates in Tsaghkadzor. Sixty-nine companies are licensed to offer games of chance, while five are licensed to offer lotteries.

[Serjik]

Re: Who owns what in Armenia

My uncle owns a shoe selling business, a house and two cars in Erevan. Why is he not on this list? Were insulted LOL

PS I went to a very posh weeding in Dodi Gagos new complex