Nov

19

Payback for Politics?: Sukiasyan enterprises hurt by Ter-Petrosyan affiliation

Filed Under ArmeniaNow Weekly 

Bjni mineral water and Noy spring water- victims of political fight for power?Products produced by plants belonging to oppositionist tycoon Khachatur Sukiasyan remain scarce throughout Armenia as it appears the MP/businessman has been targeted for persecution because of his publicly stated support of Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Sil Concern company, founded by Sukiasyan, produces Bjni mineral water and Noy table water, among other commonly used products. Since he joined efforts to put Ter-Petrosyan back in the seat of power, his companies have come under scrutiny and harassment by tax officials.

“The recent developments paralyzed our activities. Now we try to restore our supply volumes. However, we can’t manage it yet,” deputy director of the Bjni mineral waters plant Arayik Mnatsakanyan told ArmeniaNow. “The losses that we incurred only during one week amounted to more than 45 million drams (more than $140,000), and despite that, artificial obstacles continue.”

These “artificial obstacles” began in early November when Sukiasyan, without hiding his political preferences, stood next to first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who is now in strong opposition to the current authorities, and stated that he was ready for pressures from the authorities.

“I will always be by Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s side,” Sukiasyan said. “I am prepared for persecutions. When your choice is ideological, when you are certain that your choice is right, then you are ready. I will take any pressure, any persecution with pleasure.”

(See also: http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=2599&CID=2582&IID=&lng=eng)

After this position was clearly stated, tax inspections conducted as recently as in summer were followed by more inspections.

According to SIL Concern press secretary Anna Mkrtchyan, this time without any notification and law officials started to take Sil employees to the government-affiliated state tax service and tax police.

“Computers unlawfully confiscated from the Bjni mineral waters plant have not been returned to date. According to the information we possess, without finding any tax offenses, without our representative, the sealed computers were rendered open. It means that those at the tax service can load in our computers any information they find suitable,” Mkrtchyan told ArmeniaNow.

Last week Sukiasyan stated that SIL Concern has nothing to fear, as it works within the framework of law and that it would defend its rights within the limits of law, and in seeking solutions they may go as far as the European Court.

But the Armenian way of solving the issue is unlikely to be delayed.

ArmeniaNow was told at the Armenian State Tax Service that the results of the inspections were not ready yet, but would become available to the media and the public in the near future as soon as the inspections are over.

“We will publish the results of these inspections and you will see how the businessman whom you imply cheats the Republic of Armenia,” President Robert Kocharyan told reporters on November 14, commenting on the inspection launched at SIL Concern.

“There are people who do not want to reduce the illicit part of their businesses and are trying to politicize this issue, try to make noise, to put it bluntly, become hysterical in order to pay less money to the budget. I think that if you are rich, if we speak about social justice, then we ought to have conscience to provide a share of our revenues to the state for solving social issues,” Kocharyan said. “That hysteria will not do them any good. An honest taxpayer will always be respected in the Republic of Armenia.”

President Kocharyan’s words about “honest taxpayers” gave rise to discussions.

In April of this year, in a sensational interview given to the Zhamanak newspaper (www.zhamanak.com) businesswoman Roza Tsarukyan, the mother of the pro-Kocharyan oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan, in particular said speaking about taxes due to be paid to the state:

“We keep a little, do not show (taxes), we give a little. How else?.. We do it right, if we can do this, then we do it right. Why should I give? For them to go to Monte Carlo?.. (meaning casinos). I won’t give, I give to the socially vulnerable groups, I give it to kindergartens for free, I give it for free medical aid,” Roza Tsarukyan said.

However, this statement was not followed by a repeat ‘tax inspection’ at the organizations belonging to the Tsarukyans.

“All that is happening at present is a very ordinary manifestation of political persecution,” Suren Surenyants, a member of the political council of the opposition Hanrapetutyun party, told ArmeniaNow. “Similar ‘sanctions’ for political views were used not long ago against Aram Sargsyan’s family.”

Armenia’s former ombudsperson, MP Larisa Alaverdyan also defines the process at SIL Concern as “political persecution”.

“What is happening at SIL Concern is directly linked with Sukiasyan’s political position. It is a political persecution disguised as economic one,” Alaverdyan said. “Similar methods against political dissidents are a usual practice in all countries with authoritarian regimes, including Armenia.”
By Marianna Grigoryan
Source: http://www.armenianow.com

Permanent link:  http://www.armpress.com/armenianow/2007/11/19/506/

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